Ellison
Boy name · #1677 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Ellison scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ellison is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ellison is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Ellisons were TX (9), CA (5), SC (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.