Entry № 1668 · English origin

Ellie Ellie — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ ELL-ee /
Gender
Girl
Origin
English
Meaning
"Bright, shining light"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 32
First recorded
Modern (English)

A name that means "bright, shining light".

Ellie began as a diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen, and Elizabeth — three names with different but related roots. As a name in its own right, Ellie has been used since the late 20th century and has risen rapidly into the U.S. top 35.

Ellie carries the meaning "bright shining light" through Ellen (from Greek Helene, meaning sun's ray). Two short syllables, soft sounds, and the warmth of a name that started as everyone's nickname.

A nickname grown up. Two syllables, an old light.

The name in its native script.

Ellie
Transliteration
Ellie
Pronunciation
/ ˈɛl.i /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Ellie stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 32 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 32 in 2025
Babies named Ellie · last year
6247 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №32 NOW · №32

Ellies before her.

Real people
Ellie Goulding
British singer-songwriter.
born 1986
Ellie Kemper
American actress, star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
born 1980
In fiction
Ellie Williams
Heroine of the video game The Last of Us.
2013 video game

Names connected to Ellie.

The number behind Ellie.

6

The Nurturer

Ellie reduces to six — the number of warmth and quiet care.

Why families chose this name.

"We picked Ellie first, then found out it could grow into Eleanor. Both names felt like ours."
Hannah · Mother of one · Boston