UK girl's name
Elish
Of Sumerian origin, meaning "paradise" or "home of the gods".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1998. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Elish is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Elish popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1998 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3142, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1996 to 1998. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Elish is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Elish. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 1999 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Elish ranked #3142 for girls in England and Wales in 1998, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 4 girls were registered as Elish.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elish as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3142
1998
Births in 1998
4
Latest year
Peak year
1998
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Elish mean?
The given name Elish has its origins in the ancient Sumerian language, one of the earliest known written languages, dating back to around 3500 BCE. It is derived from the Sumerian word "elish," which means "lord" or "supreme being," referring to the highest deity in the Sumerian pantheon.
The name Elish was closely associated with the Sumerian god of wisdom, known as Enki or Ea, who was sometimes referred to as "Elish" or "Eliz." This god played a crucial role in the Sumerian creation myth and was revered as the patron of magic, sorcery, and craftsmanship.
One of the earliest references to the name Elish can be found in the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian literary work dating back to around 2100 BCE. In this epic, Elish is mentioned as one of the gods who bestowed divine powers upon the hero Gilgamesh.
Throughout history, the name Elish has been borne by several notable individuals, including Elish ben Abuyah (c. 70-135 CE), a famous Jewish scholar and philosopher from ancient Judea. He was also known as Acher, which means "other" in Hebrew, due to his controversial views and eventual apostasy.
Another prominent figure with the name Elish was Elish ben Judah (c. 1190-1255 CE), a renowned Jewish poet and grammarian from Spain. He was highly regarded for his contributions to Hebrew poetry and his grammatical works, which helped further the understanding of the Hebrew language.
In the realm of literature, Elish Bates (1757-1841) was an English poet and writer who gained recognition for her works, including "Rural Poetry" and "Miscellaneous Pieces in Prose and Verse."
During the 19th century, Elish Revere (1804-1887) was an American author and educator who wrote several books on history and geography, including "A Tour of New England" and "A Treatise on Geography."
Lastly, Elish Norn (1890-1976) was a Norwegian explorer and author who wrote extensively about his expeditions to the Arctic regions, including the book "The Arctic Prairies."
These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have borne the name Elish throughout the ages, reflecting its ancient Sumerian origins and its enduring cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Elish over time
The chart below shows babies named Elish registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 1998. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Elish, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 1998, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Elish by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elish was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3469 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Elish
- Emily 121,621
- Ella 69,101
- Ellie 63,522
- Evie 52,944
- Emma 50,755
- Eleanor 40,576
- Elizabeth 39,225
- Erin 34,816
- Eva 29,738
- Evelyn 26,911
- Elsie 23,671
- Emilia 22,167
FAQ
Elish: questions and answers
How popular is the name Elish in the UK right now?
In 1998, Elish was ranked #3142 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Elish most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 4 babies registered as Elish in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Elish?
Of Sumerian origin, meaning "paradise" or "home of the gods".
How many people are called Elish in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Elish across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.