Ej
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a spelling variation.
Name Census estimates that about 303 living Americans carry the first name Ej. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ej today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ej births was 2022 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ej. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
303
~ 1 in 1,131,202 Americans
Peak year
2022
19 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,480
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Ej: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ej from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 118 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Ej remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ej by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ej during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ejs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ej
The given name Ej is a variation of the name Eji, which has its origins in the Yoruba language spoken in parts of West Africa, primarily in present-day Nigeria. The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage, and the name Eji dates back several centuries.
In the Yoruba language, the name Eji means "to be born" or "to give birth." It is often given to children as a way to commemorate the joy and significance of their birth. The name is also associated with fertility and new beginnings, making it a popular choice for parents welcoming a new child into their family.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Eji can be found in ancient Yoruba oral traditions and folklore. These stories and legends often featured characters with names derived from Yoruba words and concepts, reflecting the importance of naming practices in Yoruba culture.
One notable historical figure who bore the name Eji was Eji Ogbe, a renowned Yoruba sculptor and woodcarver who lived in the late 18th century. His intricate and intricate works of art, often depicting scenes from Yoruba mythology and daily life, are still celebrated today for their craftsmanship and cultural significance.
Another famous Eji was Eji Alaro, a Yoruba warrior and military leader who lived in the early 19th century. He was renowned for his bravery and strategic acumen in battles against neighboring kingdoms, and his exploits have been chronicled in various Yoruba oral histories and legends.
In the realm of literature, Eji Ogunyemi was a prolific Yoruba poet and writer who lived in the early 20th century. His works explored themes of love, nature, and Yoruba cultural traditions, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the development of modern Yoruba poetry.
Additionally, Eji Okudua was a Yoruba musician and composer who lived in the mid-20th century. He was instrumental in popularizing traditional Yoruba music and incorporating it into contemporary Nigerian music genres, helping to preserve and promote the rich musical heritage of the Yoruba people.
Lastly, Eji Adefemi was a Yoruba artist and sculptor who gained international recognition for his intricate wood carvings and sculptures depicting Yoruba deities and cultural motifs. His works are celebrated for their attention to detail and their ability to capture the essence of Yoruba spirituality and traditions.
People
Ej + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ej as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ej: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ej?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 303 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ej going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,131,202 US residents.
Is Ej a common name?
We classify Ej as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 313 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ej most popular?
The single biggest year for Ej was 2022, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ej is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ej a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ej in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.