Is this a proper name?

[monkeyandguitar]

Ellery? I really like the sound of it but don't want a name that sounds made up. I know Eleri is the Welsh version and a proper name but what about Ellery? And how would you pronounce it - Ella-ree? Any more suggestions of similar names would be much appreciated.

[RancerDoo]

Dunno if it is proper.

I'd say it phonetically (celery without the 'c').

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Yes it is

[Stellan]

Yes, according to Americans.

[PercyFilth]

Surname.

[workshy]

ellery handley

former rugby player

nothing wrong with it

[Scatterplot]

Hilary, Valerie or Mallory are similar.

[mathanxiety]

There was an American fictional detective called Ellery Queen. (pr like celery).

[sashh]

Ellory Queen?

[RancerDoo]

Ellory Queen sounds like a yacht.

[butthatsnotfair]

DD has a doll called Ellery. I thought she'd made it up

[CallMeAl]

"Ellery meaning and name origin

Ellery \e-lle-ry\ as a boy's name is pronounced EL-er-ee. It is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Ellery is "alder tree". May be related to Latin Hilary meaning "cheerful". Literary: familiar since the 1930s due to the fictional detective Ellery Queen.

Ellery has 3 variant forms: Ellary, Ellerey and Elrey.

Baby names that sound like Ellery are Elroy, Waller and Wyler."


Eleri is a girls name, Ellery is a boys name.

[monkeyandguitar]

Hi everyone, I posted the above message some time ago about the name Ellery.

We keep coming back to this name and are strongly considering it for our DD. We dont want to use Eleri as we like the Ella-ree rather than the El-air-ee pronunciation.

Our concerns are that it may sound made up and people may think we've given DD a boys name e.g Ellery Handley - rugby player.

Does anyone know any female Ellerys? According to my baby naming book, it is both a girls and boys name.

Any general thoughts also appreciated as we really need to make a decision.

[mrstowers]

It just makes me think of Ellery Queen Whodunnit but maybe I'm just showing my age

[EdithWeston]

I have never come across it as a girls name, and think it's lovely for a boy (eg Ellery Queen).

[WanderingOkapi]

Isn't one of the blues brothers called ellery? Dim memory says so. Quite like it

[OneLittleToddlingTerror]

I think it's a rare enough name that people won't think of it instantly as a boys name? I noticed on the 2011 list from ONS that there are many baby girl Frankie. And I thought that's a boy's name!

I remember there was a poster Stephie here who wasn't quite happy about having a slightly masculine name. Too many people think she was a man just from looking at the name. Have you asked people around you if they think Ellery is a male or female name? How about a compromise with a obviously female form of the name, like Hilary?

[OneLittleToddlingTerror]

Disclaimer. Have never heard of Ellery Queen.

[FelicitywasSarca]

It's a boys name,

Although I do know a female 'Eleri' pronounced 'el er ree' which is nice IMO.

[MiggleMoo]

I like Elodi (girl) (pr like melody) means marsh flower in french

[EdithWeston]

Hilary is a unisex name - think of the TV doctor. I'd agree it's now dominantly female, but it's not clearly and inevitably so.

Some people do not mind unisex names; it wouldn't be my choice, especially one that hasn't really crossed over yet. But that might not bother OP.

It was Elwood in the Blues Brothers btw.

[BikeMedalsRunningMedals]

Eleri is a proper Welsh name.

[doublecakeplease]

I taught a boy named Emery last year - close and suited him :-)

[monkeyandguitar]

Thanks for your replies. I'll try asking some people in real life what they think too. I'd use Eleri if the Ella-ree pronunciation was ok but from what I've gathered El-air-ee is the correct way.

FelicitywasSarca - is the Eleri you know Welsh?

Why can't I like a straightforward name!

[FelicitywasSarca]

Yes she is. I never heard the el air e pronounciation before MN!

[monkeyandguitar]

FelicitywasSarca Ah! That helps - I didn't know about the El-air-ree proununciation before MN either so good to see it can be pronounced the way we prefer. Thanks