Ely
Inherited from Middle English Ely, from Old English Ēlīġ, of uncertain origin.
Every Ely since 1880 — 5,087 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ely
Ely is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,653 in 2025 with 49 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 5,087 American babies have been named Ely — about 88% boys and 12% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2009, when 175 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ely stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ely year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | #6,925 | 49 | #2,653 |
| 2024 | 29 | #4,696 | 40 | #3,064 |
| 2023 | 28 | #4,788 | 46 | #2,777 |
| 2022 | 30 | #4,619 | 39 | #3,115 |
| 2021 | 23 | #5,454 | 48 | #2,663 |
| 2020 | 16 | #7,017 | 48 | #2,631 |
| 2019 | 27 | #4,949 | 71 | #2,051 |
| 2018 | 26 | #5,055 | 75 | #1,964 |
| 2017 | 28 | #4,846 | 73 | #1,961 |
| 2016 | 15 | #7,713 | 105 | #1,567 |
| 2015 | 26 | #5,174 | 109 | #1,516 |
| 2014 | 25 | #5,357 | 104 | #1,540 |
| 2013 | 19 | #6,547 | 123 | #1,373 |
| 2012 | 23 | #5,762 | 132 | #1,305 |
| 2011 | 18 | #6,940 | 150 | #1,181 |
| 2010 | 21 | #6,246 | 137 | #1,271 |
| 2009 | 16 | #7,789 | 159 | #1,149 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7,514 | 153 | #1,171 |
| 2007 | 18 | #7,174 | 146 | #1,208 |
| 2006 | 18 | #6,946 | 142 | #1,188 |
| 2005 | 13 | #8,484 | 152 | #1,085 |
| 2004 | 17 | #6,880 | 143 | #1,104 |
| 2003 | 7 | #12,822 | 94 | #1,412 |
| 2002 | 15 | #7,166 | 88 | #1,450 |
| 2001 | 14 | #7,438 | 85 | #1,454 |
| 2000 | 8 | #11,044 | 92 | #1,373 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12,240 | 43 | #1,961 |
| 1990 | 11 | #7,469 | 42 | #1,848 |
| 1985 | — | — | 33 | #1,808 |
| 1980 | — | — | 35 | #1,664 |
| 1975 | — | — | 21 | #2,150 |
| 1970 | — | — | 16 | #2,326 |
| 1965 | — | — | 6 | #3,651 |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | 6 | #3,625 |
| 1950 | — | — | 8 | #2,847 |
| 1945 | — | — | 8 | #2,622 |
| 1940 | — | — | 8 | #2,729 |
| 1935 | — | — | 7 | #3,048 |
| 1930 | — | — | 5 | #4,167 |
| 1925 | — | — | 16 | #2,033 |
| 1920 | — | — | 25 | #1,519 |
| 1915 | — | — | 25 | #1,351 |
| 1910 | — | — | 10 | #1,065 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | 7 | #1,079 |
| 1895 | — | — | 10 | #707 |
| 1890 | — | — | 5 | #1,051 |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | 5 | #953 |
Famous people named Ely
- Ely Ould Mohamed Vall Politician · 1953–2017
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ely mean?
Inherited from Middle English Ely, from Old English Ēlīġ, of uncertain origin.
How popular is the name Ely in 2025?
Ely ranked #2,653 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 49 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ely?
5,087 babies have been named Ely in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ely most popular?
Ely peaked in 2009, when 175 newborns received the name.
Is Ely a boy or girl name?
Ely is used for both: about 12% of babies named Ely have been girls and 88% boys.
Is the name Ely rising or falling?
Ely is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ely?
Well-known people named Ely include Ely Ould Mohamed Vall (politician).