Given name & surname
Elly
“from a foreign land”·“God is my oath”·“shining light”
Elly is a variant of Ella. One German interpretation is “from a foreign land.” In German use, Elly is a diminutive of Elisabeth. One interpretation is “God is my oath.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Elly is a variant of Ella. One German interpretation is “from a foreign land.” In German use, Elly is a diminutive of Elisabeth. One interpretation is “God is my oath.” Elly is a variant of Eleanor. Eleanor is sometimes interpreted through Helen as “shining light,” but the connection to Helen is disputed. Another proposed explanation starts with a Germanic element ali, “other” or “foreign.” Neither proposal supplies a securely established full meaning.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Elly is a variant of Ella. An origin associated with Ella is Germanic. Elly is a variant of Eleanor. Eleanor reached English through an Old French reshaping of the Old Provençal name Alienor. Eleanor’s deeper linguistic origin is uncertain, despite the well-documented medieval route into England.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Elly is a diminutive of Eleanor. In Swedish usage, Elly is a short form of Eleanor. Elly is a variant of Eleanor. The shared background comes through Eleanor: The clearest sequence is Alienor into an Old French form and then English Eleanor. Beyond that, the suggested Helen connection competes with a possible Germanic origin; similarity to a familiar name is not enough to resolve the question.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1921. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Elly is a variant of Eleanor. The history of Eleanor gives this family its wider story. Eleanor of Aquitaine, who married Henry II, brought the name from southwestern France to England in the twelfth century. Eleanor of Provence married Henry III, and Eleanor of Castile married Edward I. This succession of royal bearers gives the name a concrete English history independent of the debate over its meaning.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Elly through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,595
- 10 boys · 4,585 girls
- Most popular year
- 2010
- 191 babies
- 2025
- 129
- #1,613 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 129 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,613 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 15.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 191 in 2010. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (15). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,914 as a first name in 2020; 220 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.
Elly’s family of names
In German usage, Elly is a diminutive of Eleanor. Elly has a related form in Ella. In Swedish usage, Elly is a short form of Eleanor.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Elly has relatives in 3 languages.
4 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Elly
- Elly SchleinItalian politicianborn 1985
- Elly AmelingDutch singerborn 1933
- Elly NeyGerman pianist (1882–1968)
- Elly BeinhornGerman pilot (1907–2007)
- Elly GriffithsBritish novelistborn 1963
- Elly van HulstDutch middle distance runnerborn 1959
- Elly Heuss-KnappGerman politician (1881-1952)
- Elly JacksonBritish singerborn 1988
- Elly MaydayCanadian model (1988-2019)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elly, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Emelyn
Emelyn is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Emaline
Emaline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Emiline
Emiline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Eleni
“the shining light” · “shining light”
>99% girls
Ellinor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Kendall
“from the royal valley”
15% boys · 85% girls
Ellenor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Kinsey
“the king's victory” · “the victorious prince”
>99% girls