Baby Name of the Day: Ellington

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.