Ellis

“My God is Yahweh” through Elias; “kind” or “benevolent” through Welsh Elisedd.

Ellis brings more than one naming tradition into a compact form. Through the English surname and the older name Elis, it connects to Elias and the Hebrew meaning “my God is Yahweh.” Its Welsh route leads instead to Elisedd and the sense “kind” or “benevolent.” These are separate histories behind the same spelling. Ellis is used for boys and girls. Some feminine uses are also explained through Alice or Elizabeth, so its background need not be identical in every family. For someone drawn to Elias, Ellis offers a shorter rhythm while retaining a historical connection to that name. In English, EL-iss has two syllables and a light ending. The flowing l and quiet final s give it a gentle, understated quality to our ear. It can appeal if you like a name that feels neat and self-contained, with a surname touch but little formality in its sound.

Etymology: Ellis comes from an English surname based on medieval Elis, a form of Elias with Hebrew roots. It has also served as an English form of Welsh Elisedd, derived from elus, “kind, benevolent.”