Find out how popular the first name Ellery has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ellery by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ellery is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 85% of people named Ellery being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 195 female babies and 9 male babies born with the name Ellery.

The history of the first name Ellery

The name Ellery has its origins in the Old English language, stemming from the word "aelfric," which means "elf ruler" or "elf power." This name gained prominence during the Anglo-Saxon period, particularly between the 5th and 11th centuries AD, when it was commonly used among the English nobility and aristocracy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ellery can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions an individual named "Aelfric" as a landowner in the county of Norfolk.

In the 12th century, the name underwent a slight variation and was spelled as "Elfric" or "Elfricus." This form of the name appears in various medieval manuscripts and chronicles, including the writings of the renowned English historian William of Malmesbury.

The name Ellery gained further recognition in the 16th century, when it was used by notable figures such as Ellery Walker (1509-1592), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious treatises.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ellery. One of the most prominent was Ellery Channing (1780-1842), an American writer, poet, and philosopher who played a significant role in the Transcendentalist movement. He was known for his influential works, including "Self-Culture" and "The Poet's Calling."

Another notable figure was Ellery Queen (1905-1982), the pen name of American writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee, who were renowned for their popular mystery novels featuring the fictional detective Ellery Queen.

In the field of sports, Ellery Clark (1923-2000) was an American basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics in the 1940s and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976.

Ellery Hanley (born 1961) is a former English rugby league footballer and coach who played for several clubs, including Hull FC and Wigan Warriors, and was inducted into the Rugby Football League Hall of Fame in 2005.

The name Ellery has also been used by prominent artists, such as Ellery Walker (1942-2011), an American painter and printmaker known for her vibrant and expressive abstract works.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ellery was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ellery, please contact us.

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