What Does the Name Ellis Mean?

Ellis is a unisex name of Welsh and English (surname-derived) origin meaning “Welsh: possibly "benevolent" (from Elis); also a medieval form of Elijah.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Ellis
Gender	unisex
Origin	Welsh and English (surname-derived)
Meaning	Welsh: possibly "benevolent" (from Elis); also a medieval form of Elijah
Variants	Elis, Ellys, Elliss
Popularity	Traditionally a boys' name (and a top name in Wales); increasingly given to girls in the US, where it now reads as unisex.

The meaning and origin of Ellis

The name Ellis means “Welsh: possibly "benevolent" (from Elis); also a medieval form of Elijah” and has Welsh and English (surname-derived) origins. An English and Welsh surname derived from the Welsh personal name Elis (linked to Elijah, "my God is Yahweh") or, in Wales, from elus "kind, benevolent." Long used as a given name.

Variants and related names

Ellis is related to several other names you may recognize: Elis, Ellys, Elliss. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Ellis?

Traditionally a boys' name (and a top name in Wales); increasingly given to girls in the US, where it now reads as unisex.

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