The name Ell is of Welsh origin and it means "proud". It is a short form of the Welsh name Elin which itself is derived from the Latin name Helen meaning "torch" or "corposant". The name Ell has been used as an independent given name since the late 19th century. It is often considered a unisex name, but it is more commonly used for girls in English-speaking countries. Ell is also associated with other names such as Ellie and Ella.
The name Ell has a variable popularity over time in the United States. Between 1882 and 1948, there were 144 babies named Ell born in total. The year with the highest number of births was 1923, with 10 babies named Ell born that year. However, some years had significantly fewer births with this name, such as 5 births each in 1882, 1913, and 1934, indicating a fluctuating trend in popularity for the name Ell during this period.