Ell
An ell is a northwestern European unit of measurement, originally understood as a cubit. The word literally means "arm", and survives in the modern English word elbow (arm-bend). Later usage through the 19th century refers to several longer units, some of which are thought to derive from a "double ell".
Meaning & Origin of Ell
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
An ell is a northwestern European unit of measurement, originally understood as a cubit. The word literally means "arm", and survives in the modern English word elbow (arm-bend). Later usage through the 19th century refers to several longer units, some of which are thought to derive from a "double ell".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Ell
As a girl name
Ell first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1916, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1916, when 5 Ells were born — ranking #4,417 that year. As of 2026, Ell ranks #5,009 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Ells have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Ell first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1882, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1920, when 10 Ells were born — ranking #2,765 that year. As of 2026, Ell ranks #3,315 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 144 Ells have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Ell
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ell is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ell
What does the name Ell mean?
How popular is Ell in 2026?
When was Ell most popular?
Is Ell a unisex name?
What names go well with Ell?
About the name Ell
Ell is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1882 and has accumulated 144 births in the dataset. Ell's peak popularity came in 1920 when it ranked #2,765. Use the chart and map above to compare Ell's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1920 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "E" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.