Meaning: Its source is Alja, an Ancient Germanic name meaning "Entire."

Nickname For: Elaine, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Ella, Ellen and Eloise

Alternative Spellings: Elly

Variant Forms: Elle and Ellee

Source Forms: Alja

Popularity: The name Ellie ranked 275th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 1198th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: Another theory is that this name derives from a Norman French nickname for those with names containing the element ali, meaning ''foreigner.''

In Hebrew it means goddess.