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Elis

Boy name · 33 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Elis: 33 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 5 births in 2022.

Originally rooted in Welsh, Elis is a variant of Elias or Elijah, tracing back to the Hebrew name Eliyahu, meaning "Yahweh is God." In Scotland, it is often used as a short form of Elizabeth as well, though the Welsh masculine form remains most familiar. Notable bearers include Welsh comedian and actor Elis James, and the name gained international recognition through Brazilian singer Elis Regina, though that stems from a different linguistic tradition. Elis also shares its root with the Greek region of Elis, meaning "lowland" in ancient Greek, but this is a separate etymology. A popular variant is Ellis, which is more common as a surname but has become a unisex given name in its own right. In recent years, Elis has seen steady use in Scotland, particularly as a distinctive alternative to more common Elijah or Elias.