Ellie
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Bright, shining one; light
Origin: Short form of Eleanor, Ellen, or Elaine — ultimately from Greek helios (sun) or Germanic alja (other)
Popularity: Ranked #24 in 2025 with 6,176 babies born.
History: Ellie began as a nickname for Eleanor or Ellen but has long since established itself as a full given name in its own right. It carries the warmth and brightness of its longer forms with an added softness and approachability. In the UK it has been a top-10 name for girls since the 2000s. In America it has climbed steadily into the top 20. Ellie from the Pixar film Up — the irrepressible, adventurous spirit at the heart of the movie's most emotional sequence — gave it a beloved pop culture presence that resonated deeply with parents.
Famous people named Ellie: Ellie Goulding (singer), Ellie from The Last of Us, Ellie Sattler (Jurassic Park)
Name length: 5 letters
How common is Ellie? About 1 in 539 babies born in 2025 were named Ellie, or roughly 16.9 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Ellie
What does the name Ellie mean?
Ellie means “Bright, shining one; light” from Short form of Eleanor, Ellen, or Elaine — ultimately from Greek helios (sun) or Germanic alja (other) roots.
What is the origin of the name Ellie?
Ellie has Short form of Eleanor, Ellen, or Elaine — ultimately from Greek helios (sun) or Germanic alja (other) origin. The traditional meaning is “Bright, shining one; light”.
How popular is Ellie?
Ellie ranked #24 in 2025 — given to 6,176 babies that year.
When was Ellie most popular?
Ellie peaked in 2024 with 6,306 babies registered that year.
Is Ellie a boy or girl name?
Ellie is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Ellies in registered births are female.
How long has Ellie been recorded?
Ellie appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.