UK boy's name
Erlis
A variant spelling of the feminine name Erla meaning "noble, respected.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Erlis is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Erlis popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3959, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 4 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2015 to 2018. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Erlis. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Erlis ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 4 boys were registered as Erlis.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Erlis as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3959
2018
Births in 2018
4
Latest year
Peak year
2016
4 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Erlis mean?
The name Erlis is believed to have originated from the ancient Germanic language, where it was derived from the root words "erl" and "is." The word "erl" meant "noble" or "lord," while "is" was a common suffix used in personal names. This suggests that the name Erlis may have initially meant "noble one" or "lord."
During the Middle Ages, the name Erlis was primarily found in various regions of present-day Germany and the surrounding areas where Germanic tribes had settled. It was a relatively uncommon name, but it appeared in some historical records from that period, particularly in local parish registers and census records.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Erlis was a minor nobleman from the region of Saxony, who lived in the late 12th century. His name was mentioned in a legal document from 1187, which detailed a land dispute between him and a neighboring lord.
In the 14th century, an Erlis von Braunschweig was a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. He was noted for his bravery on the battlefield and served under the command of the Duke of Brunswick.
During the Renaissance period, an Italian humanist scholar named Erlis Piccolomini (1440-1503) gained recognition for his writings on philosophy and literature. He was a member of the famous Piccolomini family and served as a tutor to several noble households in Italy.
In the 17th century, a Dutch explorer named Erlis van der Bijl (1602-1676) became one of the early settlers in the Cape Colony of South Africa. He was part of a group of Dutch colonists who established the first permanent European settlement in the region.
Another notable figure with the name Erlis was a German artist and engraver named Erlis Tischbein (1751-1828), who was known for his portraits and landscapes. He was a member of the influential Tischbein family of artists and worked in various European cities, including Rome and Naples.
While the name Erlis has fallen into relative obscurity in modern times, it holds a rich historical legacy, particularly in Germanic and European cultures, where it was once borne by individuals from various walks of life, including noblemen, soldiers, scholars, explorers, and artists.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Erlis over time
The chart below shows babies named Erlis registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Erlis, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Erlis by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Erlis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4243 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Erlis
- 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
Erlis: questions and answers
How popular is the name Erlis in the UK right now?
In 2018, Erlis was ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Erlis most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 4 babies registered as Erlis in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Erlis?
A variant spelling of the feminine name Erla meaning "noble, respected.".
How many people are called Erlis in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Erlis across the 3 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.