Meaning & Origin
A surname originating as a patronymic.
Ellison is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, an English patronymic surname meaning "son of Ellis" or "son of Elias," from the Hebrew Elijah meaning "my God is Yahweh." As a feminine first name, it carries the warm, surname-style confidence of modern American naming.
Ellison has been growing as a feminine name — a slightly more elaborate and distinctive version of Ellie and Allison. Its -son ending gives it a surname-style authority, while the Elli- beginning keeps it feeling warm and approachable. It appeals to parents who want something more unusual than Allison but equally elegant.