Ella
Ella is a girls' name of German origin meaning “other, from a Germanic name element.” It ranked #29 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Ella?
EL-uh
where does the name Ella come from?
A Norman name, a short form of Germanic names containing an element meaning other. The modern English name is also a nineteenth-century shortening of Eleanor or Ellen, later used for names ending in -ella, such as Gabriella.
A Norman name, short for Germanic names built on an element meaning other, that died out in the Middle Ages and was revived in the nineteenth century, when it also served as a short form of Eleanor and Ellen.
how popular is this name?
Ella has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 141 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 5. It peaked at #12 in 2011, and ranked #29 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #29 |
| 2024 | #30 |
| 2023 | #32 |
| 2022 | #25 |
| 2021 | #16 |
| 2020 | #15 |
| 2019 | #13 |
| 2018 | #15 |
| 2017 | #16 |
| 2016 | #17 |
| 2011 | #12 |
| 2010 | #13 |
| 2000 | #264 |
| 1990 | #827 |
| 1980 | #881 |
| 1970 | #564 |
| 1960 | #352 |
| 1950 | #198 |
| 1940 | #146 |
| 1930 | #107 |
| 1920 | #88 |
| 1910 | #62 |
| 1900 | #42 |
| 1890 | #23 |
| 1880 | #13 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Ella fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Ella
The Normans brought Ella to England, where it was used until the fourteenth century and revived in the nineteenth. In the United States it ranked 13th in 1880, declined until it left the top 1,000 for several years in the 1980s, then returned to peak at number 12 in 2011 and 2012; it ranked 29th in 2025.
who are famous people named Ella?
- Ella Fitzgerald (jazz singer)
- Ella Baker (civil rights activist)
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (poet)
what are the nicknames and variants of Ella?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Ella?
what names go well with Ella?
Sibling names that share Ella's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Ella
What does the name Ella mean?
Ella means “other, from a Germanic name element”.
What is the origin of the name Ella?
Ella comes from the German naming tradition. Related forms include Alia and Elle.
How popular is the name Ella?
Ella ranked #29 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2011, at #12, and it has spent 141 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Ella a boy or girl name?
Ella is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Ella?
Ella is pronounced EL-uh, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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