Elliott means God on high — possibly from the Hebrew Elijah through the medieval French Eliot. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial's Elliott is the boy who befriended an alien and taught a generation to believe in bicycle flights. Elliott Smith's music was heartbreakingly beautiful. The double-L, double-T spelling gives it maximum visual weight. Three syllables of quiet, intelligent sensitivity.
Hebrew Eliyyahu (my God is Yahweh)→medieval French Eliot→English Elliott
1
Hebrew / English roots
Elliott likely derives from a medieval French diminutive of Elias/Elijah, meaning God on high. Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) featured Elliott Taylor (Henry Thomas) as the boy who befriends an alien — one of the most beloved films ever made. Elliott Smith (1969–2003) was an Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter whose music defined a generation of indie rock. The name has been climbing the US charts.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Medieval as a surname; E.T. (1982) defined the modern given-name association.
3
Today
Elliott remains a beloved choice, ranking #172 in the US. 67,925 babies have been named Elliott since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Elliott?
2019peak year
Elliott has settled into a steady rhythm — neither rising sharply nor fading, holding a consistent place in U.S. birth records. It currently ranks around #172, with about 2,774 babies named Elliott each year. In 2019, 2,451 babies received the name (ranked #161). Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 67,925.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
2,451 Babies named in peak year (ranked #161)
2,774Avg. per year (last decade)
27,740Total registrations last 10 years
67,925All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #172)Very popular
Elliott's Life Path 9 is the humanitarian's number — befriending the alien. People named Elliott tend to be sensitive, intelligent, and gifted at seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.
♡
Sees the extraordinary
✦
Sensitive intelligence
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Befriends the alien
◎
Bicycle-flight imagination
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God on high
E5
L3
L3
I9
O6
T2
T2
Sum: 30 → Life path 3
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Personality of Elliott
✨
Bright & creative
Imaginative, expressive, endlessly inventive.
😊
Magnetic warmth
Their laugh is contagious. People love being near them.
🌈
Eternal optimist
Even in dark moments they find the light.
🗣️
Storyteller
They can describe anything and make it fascinating.
Every name has a homeland. Discover strong boy names rooted in cultures from around the world — each with full meanings, origin stories and pronunciation.