Ely
Boy name · #2643 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ely? In official American birth records, Ely has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Ely ranks #2643 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 49 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1514, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 36,735 boys born in 2025 was named Ely.
Babies named Ely per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Ely first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 159 boys were named Ely — good for #1148 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 Ely against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ely in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ely is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ely will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ely is most common
State-level data for Ely 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 Ely
Statistically, parents drawn to Ely tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cy, Reilly, Ajay, Ean, and Edan.
CyReillyAjayEanEdanElanEsauRony
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ely | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49 | #2641 |
| 2024 | 40 | #3045 |
| 2023 | 46 | #2769 |
| 2022 | 39 | #3100 |
| 2021 | 48 | #2652 |
| 2020 | 48 | #2617 |
| 2019 | 71 | #2042 |
| 2018 | 75 | #1959 |
| 2017 | 73 | #1958 |
| 2016 | 105 | #1563 |
| 2015 | 109 | #1514 |
| 2014 | 104 | #1536 |
| 2013 | 123 | #1370 |
| 2012 | 132 | #1304 |
| 2011 | 150 | #1178 |
| 2010 | 137 | #1267 |
| 2009 | 159 | #1148 |
| 2008 | 153 | #1169 |
| 2007 | 146 | #1206 |
| 2006 | 142 | #1185 |
| 2005 | 152 | #1081 |
| 2004 | 143 | #1101 |
| 2003 | 94 | #1410 |
| 2002 | 88 | #1447 |
| 2001 | 85 | #1452 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ely?
In official American birth records, the name Ely first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ely a popular boy name?
Ely ranked #2643 among boys in 2025 with 49 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1514.
When was the name Ely most popular?
Ely peaked in 2009, when 159 American boys received the name (ranked #1148 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ely?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 36,735 newborn American boys was named Ely. 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.