Ellison

At a Glance

Meaning

Commonly explained as 'son of Ellis' (a medieval form of Elias/Elijah), i.e. a patronymic surname turned given name

Origin

English (surname, patronymic)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

EL-ih-sunListen

Ellison is an English surname that started out as a patronymic, meaning 'son of Ellis' — with Ellis being a medieval short form of Elias or Elijah. That makes it part of a common naming pattern where an old family surname eventually gets used as a first name. If you like names with that inherited, surname-turned-given-name background, Ellison is a straightforward example.

Meaning & Origin of Ellison

Meaning: Commonly explained as 'son of Ellis' (a medieval form of Elias/Elijah), i.e. a patronymic surname turned given name.

Origin: English (surname, patronymic).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Ellison

Popularity of Ellison

Social Security records on Ellison stretch back to 1881, and its best-ever rank was #748 in 1883, when 7 babies were given the name. In 2024 it ranked #1067 with 232 babies named Ellison — a far higher count than in 1883, even though the rank itself is lower today.

Names Like Ellison

These names have followed a similar path to Ellison in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Cordelia
• Mattie
• Antonia
• Ernest
• Montgomery
• Ollie

FAQ

What does the name Ellison mean?

Commonly explained as ‘son of Ellis’ (a medieval form of Elias/Elijah), i.e. a patronymic surname turned given name. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Ellison?

Ellison is pronounced EL-ih-sun (IPA: /ˈɛlɪsən/).

Is Ellison a popular name right now?

Ellison peaked at #748 in 1883 and is ranked #1067 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)

Make Ellison Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Ellison, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.