UK name, mostly boys
Elys
French feminine form of the masculine name Ellis, meaning "benevolent" or "kind".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 16 girls.
Elys is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Elys popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3017, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 6 births.
This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1999 to 2021. 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.
Elys is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Elys. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Elys ranked #3017 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 6 boys were registered as Elys.
- • Elys is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elys as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 59.0% of Elys registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3017
2021
Births in 2021
6
Latest year
Peak year
2021
6 births
Estimated living
23
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Elys
In England and Wales birth records, Elys has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 59.0% of registrations are for boys and 41.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Elys registered for boys
- Ranked #3,017 in 2021
- 6 boys registered in 2021
- Peak: 2021 (6 births)
Elys registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 1999 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Elys mean?
The name Elys is believed to have originated from the Greek language, specifically derived from the word "helios," which means "sun." This connection suggests that the name may have been used to honor or pay tribute to the sun and its significance in ancient Greek mythology and culture.
In ancient Greece, the sun was revered as a powerful and life-giving force, often personified as the god Helios. The name Elys may have been given to children as a way to invoke the sun's warmth, light, and vitality. It is possible that the name was also associated with certain virtues or qualities attributed to the sun, such as strength, radiance, or vitality.
The earliest recorded use of the name Elys dates back to the 5th century BCE, when it appears in several ancient Greek texts and inscriptions. It is mentioned in Aristophanes' play "The Clouds," where it is used as a character's name. Additionally, the name is found in various Greek pottery and vase decorations from the Classical period, indicating its widespread use among the ancient Greeks.
Throughout history, the name Elys has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest documented figures is Elys of Miletus, a Greek philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 5th century BCE. He is credited with contributing to the development of geometry and the study of proportions.
In the realm of literature, Elys of Argos was a renowned Greek poet and dramatist from the 3rd century BCE, known for his tragedies and satyr plays. His works, though now lost, were highly acclaimed during his time.
During the Byzantine era, Elys of Alexandria was a prominent Christian theologian and philosopher who lived in the 5th century CE. He played a crucial role in shaping early Christian thought and is remembered for his treatises on the nature of the Trinity and his defense of Christian orthodoxy.
In more recent times, Elys Grellet was a French-American minister and missionary who lived from 1753 to 1840. He was a prominent figure in the Society of Friends (Quakers) and traveled extensively, spreading his religious teachings and advocating for social reforms.
Another notable figure with the name Elys is Elys Boden, a British mathematician and computer scientist born in 1934. He made significant contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and is recognized for his work on the development of expert systems and knowledge representation techniques.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Elys throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and disciplines, reflecting the rich heritage and diverse backgrounds associated with this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Elys over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Elys in England and Wales, from 1998 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 Elys, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Elys by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elys 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 | #3017 | 6 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4048 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3992 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Elys
- 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
Elys: questions and answers
How popular is the name Elys in the UK right now?
In 2021, Elys was ranked #3017 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Elys most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 6 babies registered as Elys in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Elys?
French feminine form of the masculine name Ellis, meaning "benevolent" or "kind".
How many people are called Elys in the UK?
A total of 23 babies have been registered as Elys across the 6 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.