Ella Name Meaning

An endearing sister to Emma and Bella, Ella is a delicate name with worldwide appeal. Her use has risen and fallen throughout history, with her resurgence in the Victorian era spreading like wildfire across English-speaking countries where she remains a beloved treasure today. She can also be found in German, coming from the root ali- meaning “other” while in modern Hebrew she means “goddess.” Fitting, seeing that every little girl is a goddess in her own way.

Ella has a gentle sound and pixie size, much like the little ones she’s given to. She has the subtle nickname of Elle or the adorable Ellie but also the option of none at all should you choose. She’s short and breezy with an unspoken it factor – the perfect name for a surfer girl or a Hollywood star. She isn’t frilly and frufru but is undeniably feminine, a chicer version of the grand Arabella and Isabella. She also manages to sound both vintage and new, fitting in well with similar feeling names Amelia and Olivia.

In addition to standing on her own, Ella can be a diminutive of longer El- names like Eleanor and Elizabeth if you’re looking for something with a little more oomph behind it.

Infographic of Ella name meaning, which is Ella comes from the root ali- meaning other in German or goddess in Hebrew and is also a diminutive of Eleanor and variant form of Helen.
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Ella Name Popularity

How popular is the name Ella? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 62 1,565 0.4445%
1911 63 1,579 0.424%
1912 69 1,910 0.3787%
1913 70 2,052 0.3619%
1914 72 2,289 0.3285%
1915 75 2,948 0.3245%
1916 81 2,962 0.3066%
1917 83 3,040 0.3039%
1918 84 3,279 0.3055%
1919 87 3,148 0.3006%
1920 88 3,220 0.2896%
1921 89 3,229 0.282%
1922 90 3,135 0.2814%
1923 93 2,975 0.2656%
1924 93 3,045 0.2622%
1925 93 2,998 0.2652%
1926 98 2,829 0.2572%
1927 97 2,826 0.2553%
1928 100 2,659 0.2485%
1929 102 2,460 0.2375%
1930 107 2,387 0.2285%
1931 110 2,141 0.2169%
1932 107 2,241 0.2268%
1933 113 2,015 0.2163%
1934 113 2,039 0.2109%
1935 122 1,878 0.1933%
1936 127 1,812 0.1881%
1937 134 1,722 0.1748%
1938 141 1,704 0.1665%
1939 132 1,803 0.1773%
1940 146 1,647 0.155%
1941 141 1,672 0.1486%
1942 152 1,637 0.1296%
1943 155 1,631 0.1249%
1944 158 1,537 0.124%
1945 160 1,439 0.118%
1946 177 1,468 0.0995%
1947 177 1,605 0.0962%
1948 178 1,525 0.0955%
1949 177 1,527 0.0949%
1950 198 1,351 0.0839%
1951 206 1,317 0.0777%
1952 222 1,216 0.0697%
1953 239 1,113 0.0629%
1954 247 1,050 0.0574%
1955 245 1,085 0.059%
1956 277 951 0.0504%
1957 290 934 0.0485%
1958 325 789 0.0417%
1959 314 831 0.0437%
1960 354 705 0.0372%
1961 358 675 0.0358%
1962 374 588 0.032%
1963 393 556 0.031%
1964 411 521 0.0296%
1965 427 434 0.0265%
1966 451 394 0.0252%
1967 481 347 0.0229%
1968 534 275 0.0183%
1969 540 287 0.0186%
1970 564 273 0.0172%
1971 623 221 0.0147%
1972 672 170 0.0125%
1973 662 178 0.0137%
1974 696 158 0.0122%
1975 779 130 0.0101%
1976 803 123 0.0095%
1977 932 97 0.0072%
1978 848 119 0.0089%
1979 858 124 0.0088%
1980 807 145 0.0099%
1981 859 128 0.0087%
1982 849 128 0.0086%
1983 1,056 79 0.0054%
1984 1,048 86 0.0058%
1985 1,033 92 0.0061%
1986 1,216 65 0.0043%
1987 1,228 65 0.0043%
1988 910 137 0.0088%
1989 1,150 94 0.0058%
1990 864 178 0.0107%
1991 903 168 0.0103%
1992 881 179 0.0112%
1993 802 201 0.0129%
1994 685 258 0.0168%
1995 705 249 0.0165%
1996 605 334 0.0223%
1997 498 453 0.0306%
1998 406 635 0.0424%
1999 376 734 0.049%
2000 264 1,201 0.0786%
2001 191 1,702 0.113%
2002 89 3,556 0.2373%
2003 44 5,898 0.3877%
2004 29 8,237 0.5404%
2005 23 9,062 0.5927%
2006 21 9,206 0.5879%
2007 21 9,544 0.6049%
2008 19 9,349 0.6049%
2009 15 9,650 0.6456%
2010 13 9,872 0.685%
2011 12 9,586 0.6728%
2012 12 9,198 0.6455%
2013 15 8,444 0.5931%
2014 17 8,547 0.5866%
2015 18 7,896 0.5427%
2016 17 7,898 0.5478%
2017 16 8,014 0.5742%
2018 15 8,055 0.5863%
2019 13 8,079 0.5968%
2020 15 7,162 0.5627%
2021 18 6,390 0.5227%
2022 25 6,243 0.4732%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Ella

If you like Ella, you’ll love these other names like Ella.

What names are diminutives of Ella?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Ella sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Ella, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Elle

She

French

Ellee

Other, foreign; sun ray, shining light

Greek

Elli

Noble, exalted; sun ray, shining light; other, foreign

Greek

Ellie

Shortened form of El- names

English

Elly

Sun ray, shining light; other, foreign

Greek

What names are variants of Ella?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Ella.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ela

Tree; other, foreign

Hebrew

Elladine

Sun ray, shining light; other, foreign

Greek

Ellesse

Other, foreign

German

Elletta

Footloose; other, foreign

Greek

Ellette

Footloose; other, foreign; sun ray, shining light

Greek

Ellia

Other, foreign

German

Ellina

Other, foreign

German

What names sound like Ella?

If you like how Ella sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Ella.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Bella

Beautiful one

Italian

Eila

Tree

Hebrew

Elia

God has answered

Hebrew

Etta

A diminutive form of Henrietta, “mistress of the home.”

Italian

Eula

Well-spoken; wealthy; gem of the sea; sacred red

Scandinavian

Illa

Tree

Hebrew

Luella

A variant form of Louella.

English

Olla

Ancestor's relic

Scandinavian

Rella

German

Stella

Celestial star

Latin

Ulla

Will, determination

Scandinavian

What names are similar to Ella?

Find a name that’s like Ella, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Abby

Father of exaltation

Hebrew

Ava

To live

Latin

Claire

Clear and bright

French

Daisy

Daisy flower

English

Emma

Whole or universal

German

Harper

Harp Player

English

Jessa

He sees

Hebrew

Leah

Weary one

Hebrew

Luna

The moon

Latin

Olivia

Olive tree

Latin

Lists With Ella

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Ella.

Siblings of Ella

Mamas with kids named Ella also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Lumen

Measure of Light

Latin

Maverick

Independent one

American

Hudson

Son of Hudd

English

Sawyer

Wood Cutter

English

Freya

Lady

Scandinavian

Benjamin

A favorite son

Hebrew

Nina

Little girl

Spanish

31 Comments

  1. I loved Eleanor, but my partner did not. We also wanted something that didn’t need to be shortened/nicknamed. It also sounded good with our last name.

    Reply

  2. My parents loved the name Ella and therefore named me Ella. Also because my fathers grandma was named Ella and my parents wanted us to have family names. They named my sister Evelyn also after a different family member. I have always loved the name Ella and my family. My middle name is Rae. Ella Rae. People always spell my middle name wrong if they just hear it instead of reading it, but I don’t mind to much. I love seeing my name in cursive on something or just it written out normally. I now have grown into an amazing, athletic, funny, strong, brave, and caring young lady. Those are all the words that I’ve heard people call me over the years and I love hearing them.

    Reply

  3. We chose the name ella for my daughter because we just liked how simple it was and the meaning of it was “fairy maiden goddess”
    We like the name Ella because it pairs well with Marie as a middle name which was my moms middle name and also my partners grandmothers middle name
    Ella was an easy baby and now is developing into a very spirited little girl and as much as she can be a handful at times, the name fits her very well

    Reply

    • My parents thought about having my middle name be Marie, but saved it and had my sisters middle name be Marie instead. Mine ended up being Rae.

      Reply

  5. I hated my name Ella for a long time, I found out my father named me without my mother’s approval (I’m not native to the US, different laws) , he gave me a name after his friend’s lover, she was gorgeous and my father wanted me to be like her. I don’t know if you believe it or not, but name giving the future what you chose for your child. People remember a person by the name when person born and when a person dies. Beauty and Goddess do not always have a happy ending.
    ps; My mother wanted to name me Angelica that means Angel Face

    Reply

    • At least now I will know the meaning of My name because whenever I go out with my mom her friends would ask the meaning of My name and l would always tell them that I don’t know so I always blame my mom for naming me that name but I realized that it’s a good name so us the Ella’s let’s appreciate our mothers for giving us this name Ella

      Reply

  6. We chose the name Ella because it is a family name. We always knew we wanted to use family names for our children just like how we were named.

    Reply

  7. I love my name Ella Ann, chosen by my parents many years ago!

    Reply

  8. It is traditional not old fashioned.short.similar in many languages.nice meaning.not too many ways how to call the baby compared to Elisabeth for example

    Reply

  9. I’m big on name meaning

    ? Ella (gift of god) Alysse (noble, truth)

    Reply

  10. We simply love the name!

    Reply

  11. My mom was going to name my little brother Ella if he ended up being a girl. My other idea was Lorraine rose but I went with Ella because it is sweet and simple and is similar to Bella which means beautiful in Italian. The name fits her perfectly and I am just so excited that I got to have a natural birth and can finally hold her in my arms ??

    Reply

    • actually my name is Ella and thank you that was a nice description of the name and it is so true it is a lovely name to have and your mom would have picked a amazing name and thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  12. To be honest I was listening to the song Umbrella by Rhianna in my car and and just fell in love with it right away.

    Reply

  13. There was a viral video years ago with a little girl singing Elvis in the back of her dads car. Her name was Ella. My boyfriend (at the time, he’s the hubs now) and I at 17 decided if we ever had a daughter that would be her name. 8 years later we have Ella Michael (Michael after my husband’s late father) and it fits her perfectly.

    Reply

  14. Just loved it

    Reply

    • Ella) rote 2 Books she is my sister! AND I LOVE HER!

      Reply

  15. Ella Joy was conceived days before my Nana, Elizabeth passed away due to complications related to Covid-19. Her name is a tribute to this incredibly strong, funny, warm woman who herself was a mother of 6. Joy is what we have felt since we knew she was blessing our lives and also a nod to my incredible, sweet Grandmother (mote like 2nd Mom) Joyce.

    Reply

  16. I (Arielle) was named partially after my grandmother (Ellen) and Ella keeps the “El” tradition going.

    Reply

  17. We chose Ella because one of its meaning is light and we consider our baby to be a light as we start our family. Also, I have Ella my name as well so that connects me to our baby.

    Reply

  18. I like that when I named my Daughter Ella it was so far down on the most popular list (605). Her name has been passed down my Grandmother was named after her Grandmother Ella. It always feels like this is a name for a dainty proper ladylike girl. I have to say all 3 of these Ella’s are known to be fierce strong (stubborn) minded
    loving women.

    Reply

    • I love this. My Ella came out at 31 weeks kicking and ready to fight. She’s been no less independent and stubborn since (5 months later). Im so glad we gave her a strong name with the appearance of dainty-ness. It’ll shock the world ?

      Reply

  19. My boyfriend and I were trying to pick a name and I threw out 2 names before we chose on the third, perfect name… Ella, and her dad said and her middle name is Love.. Ella Love, and that was that. ??

    Reply

  20. Simple elegant name that is suitable for all ages as she grows

    Reply

  21. Traditional, yet unique!

    Reply

  22. It was my husband’s great grandmother’s name

    Reply

  23. I’m named after my grandmother

    Reply

  24. We chose the name because Ella is my boyfriends grandmothers name.
    I like that it’s simple yet not really common. What I don’t like about this name is that it’s starting to become common.

    Reply

  25. Ella is a family name. We usually call her Ella June (June is my husband’s favorite name.) Ella means “beautiful” and June means “complete.” When I was pregnant with her my husband and I were seeing significant improvement in our marriage after a lot of hard work. I thought of the verse from Ecclesiastes “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” She was the perfect gift to us, beauty after a season of struggle.

    Reply

  26. I’ve always loved the name Ella. We call her El? I love that how it’s very feminine (we paired it with Michael as her middle name,which is my fathers name) it was my grandmothers grandmothers first name which is special in our family.

    Reply

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