Find out how popular the first name Ellye has been for the last 13 years (from 2010 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ellye by gender

Based on the last 13 years of data, Ellye is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Ellye.

The history of the first name Ellye

The given name Ellye is a variant spelling of the English name Ellie, which is a diminutive form of the name Ellen. The name Ellen is derived from the Greek name Helen, which means "bright" or "shining one." The name Helen has its roots in the ancient Greek mythology, where it was the name of the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War.

The earliest recorded use of the name Ellen dates back to the 12th century in England, where it was a popular name among the Norman aristocracy. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Ellen, the daughter of King Edward I of England, who lived from 1292 to 1339.

In the Middle Ages, the name Ellen was often associated with the Virgin Mary, and it was common for churches and religious institutions to be dedicated to St. Ellen. The name also appeared in several medieval literary works, including the 14th-century poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," where the character of Elaine is mentioned.

One of the most famous historical figures named Ellen was the English novelist and playwright Ellen Terry (1847-1928), who was renowned for her performances in Shakespearean plays. Another notable bearer of the name was Ellen Swallow Richards (1842-1911), an American chemist and pioneer in the field of home economics.

In the 20th century, the name Ellen gained popularity in the United States, with several notable bearers, including Ellen DeGeneres (born 1958), the famous American comedian and talk show host, and Ellen Burstyn (born 1932), the Academy Award-winning American actress.

The variant spelling Ellye is a modern iteration of the name, likely influenced by the popularity of unique and creative name spellings in recent decades. While not as common as the traditional spellings Ellen and Ellie, Ellye has been used as a given name throughout history, though specific examples are sparse in historical records.

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 Ellye was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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