Given name & surname
Ellery
“from the alder tree”
Ellery is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the alder tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the alder tree.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Ellery is used as a form of Hilary.
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
Ellery through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,005
- 2,261 boys · 4,744 girls
- Most popular year
- 2014
- 270 babies
- 2025
- 196
- #1,208 for girls · #9,149 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −1%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 5% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 188 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,208 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 1.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 8 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (16). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,933 as a first name in 2020; 744 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.
Ellery’s family of names
In English usage, Ellery has a related form in Hilary. Ellery is a form of Hilary. In English usage, Ellery has a related form in Eulalie.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Ellery
- Ellery Harding ClarkAmerican track and field athlete (1874–1949)
- Ellery SprayberryAmerican actressborn 2000
- Ellery CairoDutch association football playerborn 1978
- Ellery SedgwickAmerican writer and publisher (1872-1960)
- Ellery SchemppAmerican physicistborn 1940
- Ellery Albee HibbardAmerican politician (1826-1903)
- Ellery EskelinAmerican tenor saxophonistborn 1959
- Ellery Cory StowellAmerican lawyer (1875–1958)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ellery, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Presley
“of the priest's town” · “from the priest's meadow”
7% boys · 93% girls
Harley
“from the meadow of the hares”
20% boys · 80% girls
Lemon
“resembling the fruit”
>99% girls
Blakely
“from the dark meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Stella
“star of the sea”
>99% girls
Ivy
“resembling the evergreen vining plant”
>99% girls
Marley
“from the meadow near the lake”
13% boys · 87% girls
Poppy
“resembling the red flower”
>99% girls