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 name Elly experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century, with a notable spike in recent years. From 1921 to 1977, Elly was given to an average of fewer than ten babies per year, with several years having no recorded births. However, starting from 1978, there was a marked increase in its usage, with over twenty babies named Elly annually. The name reached its peak popularity in 2010, with 191 births that year. Despite some fluctuations since then, Elly remains popular, with over 100 births recorded each year from 2004 onwards. In total, there have been 4338 babies named Elly between 1921 and 2023.