Ellington
Boy name · #4164 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ellington? In official American birth records, Ellington has been tracked continuously since 1921, giving it 104 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 25 baby boys were named Ellington, placing it at #4164 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3882, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 72,000 boys born in 2025 was named Ellington.
Babies named Ellington per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 104-year story
Ellington first appears in the Social Security records in 1921, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 46 boys were named Ellington — good for #2661 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ellington against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ellington in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ellington is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ellington will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ellington is most common
State-level data for Ellington is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Ellington
Statistically, parents drawn to Ellington tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Patton, Dexton, Jaxston, Stockton, and Wynston.
PattonDextonJaxstonStocktonWynstonHoltonHestonKolston
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ellington | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #4139 |
| 2024 | 19 | #5067 |
| 2023 | 33 | #3474 |
| 2022 | 37 | #3216 |
| 2021 | 37 | #3180 |
| 2020 | 30 | #3570 |
| 2019 | 29 | #3716 |
| 2018 | 33 | #3373 |
| 2017 | 45 | #2715 |
| 2016 | 46 | #2661 |
| 2015 | 27 | #3882 |
| 2014 | 28 | #3693 |
| 2013 | 20 | #4621 |
| 2012 | 19 | #4862 |
| 2011 | 17 | #5200 |
| 2010 | 20 | #4678 |
| 2009 | 14 | #6095 |
| 2008 | 13 | #6393 |
| 2007 | 14 | #5901 |
| 2006 | 11 | #6904 |
| 2005 | 13 | #5875 |
| 2004 | 8 | #8143 |
| 2003 | 9 | #7245 |
| 2002 | 9 | #7055 |
| 2001 | 12 | #5667 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ellington?
In official American birth records, the name Ellington first appeared in 1921 (over 104 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 104 years.
Is Ellington a popular boy name?
Ellington ranked #4164 among boys in 2025 with 25 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3882.
When was the name Ellington most popular?
Ellington peaked in 2016, when 46 American boys received the name (ranked #2661 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ellington?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 72,000 newborn American boys was named Ellington. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.