Ellison
Boy name · #1677 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ellison? In official American birth records, Ellison has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 98 baby boys were named Ellison, placing it at #1677 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1691, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,367 boys born in 2025 was named Ellison.
Babies named Ellison per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 144-year story
Ellison first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 101 boys were named Ellison — good for #1594 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 Ellison against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ellison in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ellison is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ellison will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ellison is most common
State-level data for Ellison 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 Ellison
Statistically, parents drawn to Ellison tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eason, Edison, Everson, Pierson, and Jenson.
EasonEdisonEversonPiersonJensonMaisonThompsonEdson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ellison | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 98 | #1677 |
| 2024 | 73 | #2057 |
| 2023 | 81 | #1928 |
| 2022 | 88 | #1826 |
| 2021 | 95 | #1710 |
| 2020 | 85 | #1778 |
| 2019 | 80 | #1868 |
| 2018 | 100 | #1625 |
| 2017 | 101 | #1594 |
| 2016 | 95 | #1663 |
| 2015 | 92 | #1691 |
| 2014 | 72 | #1979 |
| 2013 | 81 | #1782 |
| 2012 | 43 | #2772 |
| 2011 | 31 | #3434 |
| 2010 | 30 | #3531 |
| 2009 | 31 | #3476 |
| 2008 | 29 | #3646 |
| 2007 | 22 | #4375 |
| 2006 | 32 | #3306 |
| 2005 | 21 | #4198 |
| 2004 | 22 | #4005 |
| 2003 | 19 | #4276 |
| 2002 | 24 | #3554 |
| 2001 | 20 | #3974 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ellison?
In official American birth records, the name Ellison first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ellison a popular boy name?
Ellison ranked #1677 among boys in 2025 with 98 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1691.
When was the name Ellison most popular?
Ellison peaked in 2017, when 101 American boys received the name (ranked #1594 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ellison?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,367 newborn American boys was named Ellison. 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.