Ely is of Hebrew origin and means "ascension". It is a unisex name, traditionally more common for boys but also used for girls. The name gained popularity due to its association with biblical figures such as Elymas, a sorcerer mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. In literature, it was popularized by English novelist Thomas Hardy's use of the name in his novel "The Return of the Native". The name is often shortened to Eli for boys and Elle for girls.
The name Ely seems to have experienced periods of varying popularity over the past century. Its peak years appear to be from 2004 onwards, with notable highs in 2010 (21 births), 2012 (23 births), and most recently, 2022 (30 births). Interestingly, there was a gap of nearly six decades between the first recorded birth in 1918 and the next in 1977. Overall, there have been a total of 571 births with this name since 1918.