Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Ell isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ell through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 154
- 144 boys · 10 girls
- Most popular year
- 1922
- 14 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 1948. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 455 as a first name in 2020; 1,305 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ell’s family of names
In English usage, Ell as a surname has a related form in Else.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Ell, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Odell
“a sweet melody” · “one who is wealthy”
98% boys · 2% girls
Berl
>99% boys
Elroy
“a red-haired young man” · “a king”
>99% boys
Elden
“an old friend”
>99% boys
Elwyn
“a friend of the elves”
81% boys · 19% girls
Elson
“from the nobleman's town”
>99% boys
Herschel
“resembling a deer”
>99% boys
Yates
“keeper of the gates”
>99% boys