The nameElla
Ella is a short girl's name with Germanic roots and a jazz-age charm. It has been popular in Britain, Ireland and the United States since the 2000s.
- Girl's name
- Germanic
Meaning
Ella comes from the Germanic element alia, "other, all". It is also used as a short form of names such as Eleanor, Isabella or Gabriella.
Origin
Germanic, through the Normans, who brought the name to England in the 11th century.
History
The jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald gave the name worldwide fame. It returned in the late 1990s and reached the top 10 in England and Wales.
Did you know?
- Ella Fitzgerald, the "First Lady of Song", became in 1958 the first African American woman to win a Grammy Award.
Famous people named Ella
- Ella Fitzgerald, singer
- Ella Henderson, singer
- Ella Purnell, actress
Popularity of the name Ella
Ella in the United States
Ella was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 85,983 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Ella. Half of all babies named Ella in the United States were born before 2004. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 6,409 births a year on average, against 8,043 in the five years before.
Ella in the United Kingdom
Ella was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 31,650 births over the decade, 41% of all recorded babies named Ella. Half of all babies named Ella in the United Kingdom were born before 2010, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,623 births a year on average, against 2,713 in the five years before.
Ella in Ireland
Ella in France
Ella in Belgium
Ella in Switzerland
Ella in Austria
Ella in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Ella
Names from the same generation as Ella, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Ella? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Ella with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Ella side by side with the name of your choice.
Ella in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ella mean?
Ella comes from the Germanic element alia, "other, all". It is also used as a short form of names such as Eleanor, Isabella or Gabriella.
What is the origin of the name Ella?
Germanic, through the Normans, who brought the name to England in the 11th century.
Is Ella a girl's or a boy's name?
Ella is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Ella?
In 2024, Ella was the 30th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 5,685 births.
What are the variants of the name Ella?
Variants and related names of Ella include Eleonore.
What are good sibling names for Ella?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Ava, Lily, Emma and Lillian for a sister, Charles, Jackson, Aiden and Owen for a brother.
Who are famous people named Ella?
Ella Fitzgerald, singer; Ella Henderson, singer; Ella Purnell, actress.