Ella Name Meaning

The name Ella means "other." Ella was initially used as a name prefix and its original spelling was Alia. In one of the most notable examples, 12th-century queen Eleanor of Aquitaine was named Aenor after her mother but referred to as Alia Aenor, meaning "the other Aenor."

Ella also can be used as a suffix, such as in affectionately referring to a girl named Marina as Marinella. It can also make a traditionally masculine name more feminine when used as a suffix, such as with the names Gabriel and Gabriella.

In Spanish, the word ella means "she" or "her," so the name Ella can be considered to mean "girl" or "feminine" as well.

How Popular Is the Name Ella?

Ella has consistently made it onto the top 1,000 names for girls chart since the Social Security Administration started collecting name data in 1900. At the start of the 20th century, Ella was quite a popular name, remaining in the top 100 names for girls during the early 1900s before dropping out in 1929. From then on, it declined steadily each year until 1991, when it hit its record low at position 901.

After that, Ella's decline saw a reverse. Beginning in 1992, Ella became more popular each year, jumping all the way up to the top 50 most popular baby girl names in 2003. In 2008 it broke into the top 20.

Ella continued to rise in popularity until its peak in 2011 and 2012 as the 12th most popular girl name in the US. In 2023, Ella ranked as the No. 32 most popular girl's name in the US.

Name Variations

Variations of the name Ella include:

• Aella
• Alia
• Elle
• Elli
• Ellie
• Elly
• Eleanor
• Ellen
• Elsie
• Elsy

Similar Names

Here are some names with a similar sound and similar origins as Ella:

• Elayna
• Eliza
• Elyse
• Lena
• Lenora
• Lilian
• Nellie
• Nora

Here are some names with Ella as the suffix:

• Adella
• Carmella
• Fiorella
• Gabriella
• Gisella
• Marcella
  

Common Nicknames for Ella

Ella is already a short and sweet name, but there are also some cute options for nicknames. In some cases, affectionate nicknames might actually be longer versions of the name with an added element. These types of nicknames are usually used by family and close friends and sometimes restricted to childhood. Pet names for Ella include:

• Elle
• Ellie
• Ellabella
• Ellabelle

Suggested Sibling Names

Some sibling names that work well with Ella include:

• Aiden
• Alice
• Camille
• Leo
• Mia
• Noah
• Odette
• Patrick
• Jane
  

Famous People Named Ella

Many celebrities and historical figures have been called Ella. Well-known people named Ella include:

• Ella Fitzgerald, most popular female American jazz singer for more than half a century
• Ella T. Grasso, 83rd Governor of Connecticut and first female floor leader
• Ella Henderson, English singer and songwriter who taught herself to sing and play piano as a child
• Ella Eyre, British singer and songwriter influenced by Lauryn Hill and Etta James
• Ella Baker, African American civil rights and human rights activist who was among the founders of Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957
• Ella Chen, Taiwanese singer, actress, and television host
• Ella Mae Morse, American singer who influenced the future of rock and roll with her mix of jazz, blues, and country styles
• Ella Wheeler Wilcox, American writer and poet known for published works Poems of Passion and Solitude
• Ella Jenkins, American folk singer and actor known for performing children's music