NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Elli

A diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning "consecrated to God".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Elli is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Elli popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 43 births.

This profile covers 484 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.

The latest count is about 9% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 540 living people in the UK are called Elli. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Elli ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 43 girls were registered as Elli.
  • Elli ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #792 in 2021.
  • About 540 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elli as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2003

43 births

Estimated living

540

2026

Meaning

What does Elli mean?

The name Elli has its origins in the Greek language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is a shortened form of the Greek name Eleni, which itself is derived from the Greek word "helene," meaning light or torch. The name Eleni has been associated with the legendary figure of Helen of Troy, whose abduction is said to have sparked the Trojan War.

In ancient Greek mythology, Elli was also the name of a goddess who personified the rays of the sun. She was often depicted alongside her brother, Helios, the sun god, and was considered a minor deity associated with warmth and radiance.

The earliest recorded use of the name Elli can be traced back to the 5th century BC in ancient Greece. It was a popular name among Greek families, particularly those with connections to the arts, literature, and philosophy.

One of the most notable historical figures named Elli was Elli Lambridi (1898-1977), a Greek poet and writer who was part of the avant-garde literary movement in the early 20th century. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

Another prominent Elli was Elli Sougioultzoglou-Seraidari (1899-1998), a Greek philanthropist and activist who founded several charitable organizations dedicated to helping underprivileged children and families. She was widely respected for her dedication to social causes.

In the realm of sports, Elli Bekatorou (born 1977) is a Greek sailing champion who has won multiple Olympic medals, including gold in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Her achievements have made her a national icon and a role model for aspiring athletes.

Elli Avram (born 1990) is a Swedish-Greek actress and model who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows. She is known for her roles in movies like "Mickey Virus" and "Rustom."

Elli Kokkinou (born 1966) is a Greek singer and songwriter who has enjoyed a successful career spanning several decades. She has released numerous albums and is considered one of the most popular and influential artists in contemporary Greek music.

While the name Elli has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has since been adopted and used in various other cultures and languages around the world, particularly in countries with strong Greek communities or influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Elli over time

The chart below shows babies named Elli registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Elli, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 43 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Elli
011223243199620102024

Decades

Elli by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elli 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
2020s #4937 19 5
2010s #2587 103 10
2000s #1114 269 10
1990s #955 93 4

Geography

Where Elli is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Elli. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Elli ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #792 in 2021.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Elli in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#792 in 2021

13 years of NRS records, 59 total registered

Related

Names similar to Elli

FAQ

Elli: questions and answers

How popular is the name Elli in the UK right now?

In 2024, Elli was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Elli most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 43 babies registered as Elli in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Elli?

A diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning "consecrated to God".

How many people are called Elli in the UK?

A total of 484 babies have been registered as Elli across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 59 more in Scotland.

Where is Elli most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Elli ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #792 in 2021. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.