UK boy's name
Ely
Hebrew name meaning "ascent" or "my 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.
Ely is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ely popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 13 births.
This profile covers 158 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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.
The latest count is about 62% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 157 living people in the UK are called Ely. 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
- • Ely ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 13 boys were registered as Ely.
- • About 157 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ely as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2671
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2010
13 births
Estimated living
157
2026
Meaning
What does Ely mean?
The name Ely has its origins in Hebrew, derived from the biblical name Eli, which means "ascended" or "high." It is believed to have been a popular name among the ancient Israelites during the period of the Old Testament.
One of the earliest and most notable mentions of the name Ely can be found in the Book of Samuel, where Eli was a respected high priest and judge who served in the Tabernacle at Shiloh. Despite his advanced age, he played a significant role in the lives of the prophets Samuel and Jeremiah.
Throughout history, the name Ely has been associated with various religious figures and scholars. One such individual was Ely of Crete, a Byzantine monk and theologian who lived in the late 8th century and was known for his writings on the Trinity and Christology.
In the Middle Ages, the name Ely was relatively common in certain regions of Europe. One notable bearer was Ely de Longchamp, a 12th-century English bishop and statesman who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1190 to 1197.
During the Renaissance period, the name Ely gained popularity among the intellectual elite. Ely Sundel Mishoulam, a 16th-century Italian Jewish scholar and physician, was renowned for his expertise in the field of medicine and his contributions to the study of the Talmud.
Another prominent figure with the name Ely was Ely Samuel Parker, a prominent Native American leader and military officer who played a crucial role in the American Civil War. Born in 1828, he served as a commissioner for the United States Department of Indian Affairs and was a respected advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples.
In more recent times, the name Ely has been associated with various artists and writers, such as Ely Jaune, a 20th-century French painter known for his avant-garde works, and Ely Culbertson, an American author and expert on contract bridge who lived from 1891 to 1955.
While the name Ely has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture, it has transcended religious and cultural boundaries, becoming a name embraced by individuals from diverse backgrounds and nationalities throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ely over time
The chart below shows babies named Ely 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 Ely, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ely by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ely 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 | #3400 | 32 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2991 | 71 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2616 | 41 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2645 | 14 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ely
- Ethan 77,394
- Edward 53,212
- Elliot 23,450
- Elijah 22,369
- Ellis 19,358
- Elliott 16,964
- Evan 14,535
- Ezra 11,838
- Ewan 10,685
- Eli 8,126
- Elias 7,049
- Eric 6,654
FAQ
Ely: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ely in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ely was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Ely most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 13 babies registered as Ely in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ely?
Hebrew name meaning "ascent" or "my God".
How many people are called Ely in the UK?
A total of 158 babies have been registered as Ely across the 26 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.