Elly is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my light." It is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, which is composed of the elements 'Eli,' meaning "my God," and 'Yahu,' a shortened form of Yahweh, one of the names of God in the Hebrew Bible. Thus, Elly signifies a person who is illuminated or guided by God.
The name Eliyahu has been used throughout history, notably for the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament, who was known for his courage and zeal for God. However, the shortened form Elly is more modern and has gained popularity as an independent given name rather than a nickname for Eleanor or other longer names.
In recent years, Elly has been embraced by parents around the world seeking unique yet meaningful names for their daughters. It has been popular in countries such as Germany, Sweden, and Finland, among others. While it is not currently among the top 100 most popular names in English-speaking countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, its popularity has been steadily increasing over time.
Overall, Elly is a charming and distinctive name with a profound meaning rooted in ancient Hebrew culture. It offers parents an attractive option for a daughter's name that combines uniqueness with spiritual significance.
The given statistics provide an interesting overview of the popularity of the name Elly in the United States over several decades. The earliest recorded birth with the name Elly was in 1921, with a total of nine babies being named Elly that year.
From then until 1950, the number of births named Elly fluctuated between five and eleven per year. However, starting from 1958 onwards, there was a notable increase in the popularity of this name. In fact, there were more than ten births with the name Elly each year for the next twenty-four years.
The peak in popularity occurred in 2010, when an impressive total of 191 babies were named Elly at birth. This suggests that during this period, many parents chose the name Elly as a popular option for their newborn daughters.
However, it's important to note that even though there was a significant increase in popularity after the mid-50s, the number of births with the name Elly remains relatively low compared to other popular names during these decades. This could indicate that while Elly is a distinctive and unique name, it hasn't been as widely used as some other names throughout history.
Overall, these statistics highlight the fluctuation in popularity of the name Elly over time, with periods of relative obscurity followed by periods of notable popularity. Despite its ups and downs, Elly has managed to maintain a consistent presence among American baby names since 1921.