| Ellis | Owen | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Benevolent; from Elijah | Young warrior, well-born |
| Origin | Welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | EL-iss | OH-en |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (1,417) | 2016 (10,305) |
| In 2025 | 1,417 | 7,190 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Ellis | Owen |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7,039 | 48,832 |
| 2010s | 7,098 | 91,098 |
| 2000s | 2,355 | 61,878 |
| 1990s | 1,796 | 9,658 |
| 1980s | 1,514 | 4,050 |
| 1970s | 1,664 | 3,017 |
| 1960s | 2,596 | 2,916 |
| 1950s | 3,970 | 3,945 |
| 1940s | 4,617 | 3,922 |
| 1930s | 4,482 | 4,285 |
| 1920s | 6,125 | 5,873 |
| 1910s | 4,433 | 3,791 |
| 1900s | 1,100 | 860 |
| 1890s | 886 | 761 |
| 1880s | 728 | 758 |
From the Welsh Elis, a form of Elijah, “the Lord is my God,” and linked to “benevolent.”
Owen is a Welsh name, traditionally linked to “young warrior” or “well-born,” and connected to the Latin Eugene. It has been borne by Welsh princes and heroes.
Owen is more popular than Ellis today: about 7,190 US babies were given the name Owen in 2025, compared with 1,417 named Ellis.
Ellis means Benevolent; from Elijah (Welsh origin), while Owen means Young warrior, well-born (Welsh origin).
In US records, Ellis first appears in 1880 and Owen in 1880, so Ellis has the longer recorded history.