The story behind Ebony
From ebony. First used by African Americans in the 1970s.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): EH1 B AH0 N IY0
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Ebony ranked #5452 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Ebony
Emily
English form of Latin Aemilia, a gens name from aemulus (“rival, emulator”). a female given name from English [in turn from Latin], variant of Emilie Borrowed from English Emily.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anthony
From Latin Antōnius, name of a Roman gens (with excrescent -h- suggested by an unetymological association with Ancient Greek ἄνθος (ánthos, “flower”)). The Roman clan name is…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Antony
A male given name from Latin, a mostly British spelling variant of Anthony. Unadapted borrowing from English Antony, from Latin Antōnius.Doublet of Antônio and Antão.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Charity
From charity in the Biblical sense of Christian love; first used by Puritans. In early Christian tradition, Faith, Hope and Charity were the martyred daughters of Saint Sophia.…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Destiny
From the noun destiny since the 1970s.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Dorothy
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Δωροθέα (Dōrothéa). Borrowed from English Dorothy.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Ebony
Abby
Borrowed from English Abby in the 20th century. Borrowed from English Abby.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aisaya
Borrowed from English Isaiah.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alan
From Old Breton Alan, name of early Breton saints, of disputed origin and meaning; brought to England by Normans. It may have been the name of a Celtic deity, the brother of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Ebony
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Adamu
Borrowed from English Adam.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends U
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length