"God is my strength, my God is high"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Ely
Pronunciation: [ EEL-eye ]
Does Ely flow with your last name?
A serene Hebrew name meaning God is high
Hebrew
Israeli
English
American
Gentle
Spiritual
Modern
Minimalist
Classic
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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The Story of Ely
Ely is a variant of Eli, a Hebrew name meaning 'ascended' or 'my God is high.' In the Hebrew Bible, Eli was the high priest of Shiloh who raised the prophet Samuel. As a girl's name, Ely offers a fresh, slightly different spelling that gives the name a more feminine feel while preserving its ancient spiritual roots. The name also connects to the English city of Ely, site of a magnificent medieval cathedral.
Ely as a girl's name has been quietly gaining momentum as parents seek short, two-syllable names with spiritual meaning and easy pronunciation. It fits the broader trend of Hebrew names crossing gender lines — names like Eli, Levi, and Asher gaining popularity for girls.
The city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England, was an important monastic center in medieval Britain. Ely Cathedral, built from 1083, is one of England's most magnificent Norman churches. The name Ely thus carries both ancient Hebrew spiritual meaning and English historical heritage.
Historical Record
Ely first appeared in US Social Security records in 1977.
Over 595 babies have been named Ely in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Ely is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #4,709 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Eli the high priest appears in 1 Samuel as the mentor of the prophet Samuel
- The English city of Ely was originally called 'Elig' (eel island) for its abundant eels
- Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, shares this name's variant spelling
Ely in Other Languages
Arabic
علي (Ali, related root)
Hebrew
עֵלִי (Eli)
English
Ely
Spanish
Eli
Popularity Over Time
#4,709
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Ely
E
Ely Culbertson
Other
1891
Romanian-American contract bridge expert who popularized the game globally in the 1930s
E
Eli (biblical priest)
Religious
High priest of Shiloh in ancient Israel who raised the prophet Samuel, central figure in 1 Samuel
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #4,709
- Total SSA Count
- 29
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew Israeli English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Ely
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Ely is also used as a boy name, ranked #3087.
View Ely as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ely
What does the name Ely mean?
"God is my strength, my God is high" (from Hebrew). Ely is a variant of Eli, a Hebrew name meaning 'ascended' or 'my God is high.' In the Hebrew Bible, Eli was the high priest of Shiloh who raised the prophet Samuel. As a girl's name, Ely offers a fresh, slightly different spelling that gives the name a more feminine feel while preserving its ancient spiritual roots. The name also connects to the English city of Ely, site of a magnificent medieval cathedral.
What is the origin of the name Ely?
Ely has Hebrew, Israeli, English, and American origins. In Hebrew, it means "God is my strength, my God is high".
Is Ely a boy or girl name?
Ely is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #4709. As a boy name, it is ranked #3087. Ely is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Ely?
Ely is pronounced EEL-eye.
How popular is the name Ely?
Ely is currently ranked #4709 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Ely?
Popular middle name pairings include Ely Rose, Ely Grace, Ely Jane, Ely Kate, Ely Mae, and Ely Pearl.
What are good sibling names for Ely?
Names that pair well with Ely as siblings include Jonah, Naomi, Levi, Talia, Micah, and Miriam.
How many syllables does Ely have?
Ely has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Ely a common or rare name?
Ely is an uncommon name, ranked #4709 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Ely?
About the Name Ely
Ely is a girl name with Hebrew, Israeli, English, and American origins . The name means "God is my strength, my God is high" in Hebrew .
Is Ely a boy or girl name? Ely is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #4,709 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #3,087. Ely is more commonly used as a boy name.
Ely is currently ranked #4,709 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Ely has 2 syllables and is pronounced EEL-eye, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Alternative spellings of Ely include Elyse, Elyana, Elysia, Elyanna, Elyza . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis