The baby name Ellington belongs to a jazz great from the 20th century. But it sounds like it could be a stylish choice in the 21st.
Thanks to Chantelle for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME ELLINGTON MEAN?
Ellington is a surname of English origin, and that -ton ending gives it away. This is a place name. As for Elling-, there are few possible origins, including:
- It can come from the Old English word for an eel, ael. (Fun fact: eels were a popular food source, found throughout medieval England.)
- A personal name, like Ella or Eli, could’ve led to a habitational name based on a phrase like “Ella’s town.” Likewise, names beginning with the element aelf – elf – including Aelfwine and similar choices, might’ve also led to the place name.
- One more: the first element might’ve come from Ealda, meaning old.
Find it on the map in both the UK and the US. Cambridgeshire, Kent and Northumberland, and North Yorkshire have all included a village by the name. There are even more in the US, in Connecticut and Wisconsin.
There’s even a crater on the planet Mercury with the name. In that last case? The crater is named for one very specific person.
DUKE ELLINGTON
Born Edward Ellington in 1899 in Washington DC, he went on to become a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. He was more than a popular musician. Ellington appeared on the cover of Time in 1956, and he’s remembered for his work as a composer.
It’s hard to describe his influence, with a career spanning four decades. In 1999, he was awarded a special posthumous Pulitzer Prize for his contributions to music.
The jazz legend puts the name in two broad categories:
- It’s a hero name, a little like (Miles) Davis or Bob (Marley), appearing on baby names lists parents are drawn to for inspiration.
- Like Top 100 favorites Sebastian and Alexander, it’s a long name, and like rising favorites Callahan and Bellamy, it’s a long surname name.
It works as a first name and a boy’s name, a sort of Elijah-meets-Harrison, with a touch of Elliott and Weston mixed in.
But is more common for boys or girls?
ELLINGTON AS A GIRL’S NAME
In the United States, the last name Ellington was first used as a masculine first name, but only in very small numbers. It debuted in the US data in 1921, with five births.
That was long before Duke Ellington became a well-known musician. Odds are that those early uses of the name were down to some other family sharing the surname, and passing it on to the next generation.
That makes it, at least potentially, a gender-neutral choice.
By today’s standards, it fits right in with Eloise and Elodie and Eliana, plus Peyton, Sutton, and Remington. Americans love a good El- name, and we’re also wild about surname names.
In fact, in recent years, the baby name Ellington has become more popular for our daughters.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME ELLINGTON?
In 2024, the baby name Ellington was given to 19 boys and 44 girls.
That’s a drop. Back in 2015, 85 girls received the name.
But it’s still an increase. Because in the year 2000? Just seven boys were named Ellington.
And there’s a mini-trendlet for -ington names. Kensington, Carrington, Lexington, and Arlington all rank for girls. Wellington, Barrington, Covington, Bennington, and Harrington make the boy’s list. They all followed Remington into wider use.
STANDS OUT, FITS IN CHOICE
There’s something about the baby name Ellington. It’s polished and distinguished. But Duke Ellington makes it breezy, creative, cool.
The combination is appealing, for a daughter or a son. And with easy, built-in nickname options, it’s quite the versatile possibility. This could be the perfect name for parents after something rare, musical, and rich in style.
What do you think of the baby name Ellington?
First published on October 13, 2010, this post was revised on June 17, 2025.
I love the name Ellington!! I plan to name my future daughter Ellington Joy-Noel and she will go by Ellie or something similar. I also love the names Addison, Adelynn, Emerson, Everest, and Liberty for a girl!! For a boy I like the names James, Isaac, Boston, Lincoln, Kaiser, and Jackson. I also somewhat like the girl name Lakelynn 🙂
My maiden name is Ellington. I have never heard it as a first name before.
I just ADORE this name. We named our daughter Ellington Faye, in 2009 (as you posted that most were named in that year!) Ellington was my grandmother’s maiden name. It feels so nice to give her a name rooted in history; whether it’s ours or the famous Duke Ellington. We get compliments all the time on her name. Her little brother’s name is Finley, so we call them Ellie and Finn, and now with our third baby on the way, I am considering Ivy or Greta for a girl, and Lewis or Henry for a boy. But it’s definitely been challenging picking a third name after two that we just loved.
I really love the name Ellington, but for a boy. But, I’m worried it is becoming a girl name. I like Elton as a nickname. 🙂
So glad to see a couple of girl Ellington’s on here! I too have a baby girl Ellington… so much significance for the name for us… My husband is a musician/singer, we both love the Harlem Renaissance, we have a children’s book called “Ellington was not a street” that actually originally made me think of the name possibility before a little one was ever even thought of. I cannot imagine another name on this little girl! Family calls her Elle, Ellie, Ms. Elle… I prefer the full name and actually dreaded people calling her Ellie (made me think of Ellie Mae Clampitt). With her sassy personality I think that she will want to be called by her full name.
We just decided on this name for our baby girl coming in October. Ellington Quinn (I think on the middle name). LOVED the name but am a little hesitant with all the Ella, and Ellie’s that are surfacing these days. Her name will be Ellington (until she decides to go by something else for a NN). A home nickname will be “L”. We call our first child “Z.” since his first name starts with Z.
I am a professional jazz musician and we just names our little girl Ellington Beatrice. We love that it is unique but not weird.
How completely lovely! Are you calling her Elle/Ellie?