Ella Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated June 7, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Ella Name Meaning

Fact: Ella is a popular name in literature, featured in works by authors like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

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A Deep Dive

Ella Overview

Meaning

Other, fairy maiden, goddess

Gender

Girl

Origin

German

Etymology

Derived from the Germanic name “Alia,” meaning “other” or “foreign,” and also associated with the Hebrew word “El,” meaning “goddess” or “beautiful fairy woman.”

Pronunciation

/ˈɛlə/

Popularity

Ella is a popular name globally, particularly in English-speaking countries and Scandinavia. Recently, Ella has consistently ranked within the top 20 names for girls in the USA.

Syllable

2 syllables

Length

4 letters

Numerology

3 (Expressive, Social, Artistic)

Name Styles

Classic, Cute, Popular

Associated Traits

Graceful, kind, intelligent, artistic

Name Day

February 1st
A Deep Dive

Ella Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Eleanor, Eliana, Elina, Eloise, Elena, Elise, Isabella, Gabriella, Ariella, Daniella, Estella, Elliana, Elly

Common Nicknames

Elle, Ellie, Ella Bella, Els, Elle Belle, Lulu, Lala

Diminutives

El, Ells, Ella Mae, Ell, Elly

Famous People

  • Ella Fitzgerald
    (American Jazz Singer)
  • Ella Purnell
    (British Actress)
  • Ella Mai
    (British Singer)
  • Ella Henderson
    (British Singer)
  • Ella Raines
    (American Actress)
  • Ella Hunt
    (British Actress)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Ella Lopez
    ("Lucifer," TV Series)
  • "Ella Enchanted"
    (Film)
  • Ella Mae Bowen
    ("Nashville," TV Series)
  • Ella
    ("Cinderella," Film)
  • "Ella"
    (Song)
  • Ella
    ("Ella the Elephant," TV Series)

Places

  • Ella Lake
    (Ontario, Canada)
  • Ella Island
    (Greenland, Denmark)

What Is the Meaning of Ella?

Ella means “fairy maiden” or “goddess,” evoking images of charm, grace, and magical beauty. It is derived from the Old German word “ali,” meaning “other” or “foreign,” adding a sense of uniqueness and elegance to the name.

What Is the Origin of The Name Ella?

Ella has multiple origins, including English, German, and Hebrew. It started as a short form of names like Eleanor and Ellen but has since become a standalone name. In Germanic languages, it is derived from “ali,” meaning “other” or “foreign,” while in Hebrew, it means “goddess.”

Ella Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Ella in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#162021#252022#322023
Top 3 Rankings#122011#122012#131880

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Ella

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
202332
(-7 from 2022)
5643
(-629 from 2022)
0.32260
202225
(-9 from 2021)
6272
(-759 from 2021)
0.34979
202116
(-1 from 2020)
7031
(-329 from 2020)
0.39245
202015
(-2 from 2019)
7360
(-763 from 2019)
0.41636
201913
(+2 from 2018)
8123
(+1 from 2018)
0.44270
201815
(+1 from 2017)
8122
(+42 from 2017)
0.43675
201716
(+1 from 2016)
8080
(+146 from 2016)
0.42770
201617
(+1 from 2015)
7934
(+18 from 2015)
0.40984
201518
(-1 from 2014)
7916
(-650 from 2014)
0.40577
201417
(-2 from 2013)
8566
(+107 from 2013)
0.43786
201315
(-3 from 2012)
8459
(-752 from 2012)
0.43882
201212
No change from 2011
9211
(-384 from 2011)
0.47492
201112
(+1 from 2010)
9595
(-285 from 2010)
0.49518
201013
(+2 from 2009)
9880
(+223 from 2009)
0.50391
200915
(+4 from 2008)
9657
(+298 from 2008)
0.47687
200819
(+2 from 2007)
9359
(-192 from 2007)
0.44933
200721
No change from 2006
9551
(+342 from 2006)
0.45126
200621
(+2 from 2005)
9209
(+139 from 2005)
0.44051
200523
(+6 from 2004)
9070
(+821 from 2004)
0.44689
200429
(+15 from 2003)
8249
(+2341 from 2003)
0.40881
200344
(+45 from 2002)
5908
(+2343 from 2002)
0.29445
200289
(+101 from 2001)
3565
(+1843 from 2001)
0.18051
2001190
(+74 from 2000)
1722
(+490 from 2000)
0.08693
2000264
(+109 from 1999)
1232
(+452 from 1999)
0.06173
1999373
(+37 from 1998)
780
(+123 from 1998)
0.04007
1998410
(+82 from 1997)
657
(+156 from 1997)
0.03389
1997492
(+103 from 1996)
501
(+118 from 1996)
0.02624
1996595
(+91 from 1995)
383
(+73 from 1995)
0.01998
1995686
(-11 from 1994)
310
(-4 from 1994)
0.01613
1994675
(+100 from 1993)
314
(+48 from 1993)
0.01611
1993775
(+87 from 1992)
266
(+37 from 1992)
0.01349
1992862
(+37 from 1991)
229
(+13 from 1991)
0.01142
1991899
(-71 from 1990)
216
(-21 from 1990)
0.01062
1990828
(+209 from 1989)
237
(+72 from 1989)
0.01154
19891037
(-114 from 1988)
165
(-18 from 1988)
0.00828
1988923
(+227 from 1987)
183
(+55 from 1987)
0.00952
19871150
(-15 from 1986)
128
(+1 from 1986)
0.00683
19861135
(-106 from 1985)
127
(-19 from 1985)
0.00688
19851029
(-1 from 1984)
146
(+8 from 1984)
0.00791
19841028
(-81 from 1983)
138
(-18 from 1983)
0.00765
1983947
(-75 from 1982)
156
(-21 from 1982)
0.00872
1982872
(-14 from 1981)
177
(-4 from 1981)
0.00976
1981858
(+23 from 1980)
181
(+7 from 1980)
0.01012
1980881
No change from 1979
174
(+1 from 1979)
0.00977
1979881
(-32 from 1978)
173
(-1 from 1978)
0.01004
1978849
(+31 from 1977)
174
(+11 from 1977)
0.01058
1977880
(-100 from 1976)
163
(-20 from 1976)
0.00991
1976780
(-6 from 1975)
183
(+1 from 1975)
0.01164
1975774
(-81 from 1974)
182
(-30 from 1974)
0.01166
1974693
(-29 from 1973)
212
(-12 from 1973)
0.01354
1973664
(+41 from 1972)
224
(+19 from 1972)
0.01441
1972705
(-65 from 1971)
205
(-52 from 1971)
0.01271
1971640
(-76 from 1970)
257
(-66 from 1970)
0.01466
1970564
(-13 from 1969)
323
(+3 from 1969)
0.01763
1969551
(-7 from 1968)
320
(+6 from 1968)
0.01815
1968544
(-58 from 1967)
314
(-68 from 1967)
0.01837
1967486
(-33 from 1966)
382
(-48 from 1966)
0.02225
1966453
(-23 from 1965)
430
(-48 from 1965)
0.02449
1965430
(-19 from 1964)
478
(-87 from 1964)
0.02616
1964411
(-18 from 1963)
565
(-31 from 1963)
0.02887
1963393
(-20 from 1962)
596
(-35 from 1962)
0.02998
1962373
(-15 from 1961)
631
(-83 from 1961)
0.03113
1961358
(-6 from 1960)
714
(-33 from 1960)
0.03437
1960352
(-38 from 1959)
747
(-119 from 1959)
0.03592
1959314
(+6 from 1958)
866
(+25 from 1958)
0.04166
1958320
(-30 from 1957)
841
(-127 from 1957)
0.04071
1957290
(-14 from 1956)
968
(-22 from 1956)
0.04614
1956276
(-32 from 1955)
990
(-134 from 1955)
0.04807
1955244
No change from 1954
1124
(+25 from 1954)
0.05606
1954244
(-9 from 1953)
1099
(-62 from 1953)
0.05520
1953235
(-15 from 1952)
1161
(-84 from 1952)
0.06017
1952220
(-14 from 1951)
1245
(-119 from 1951)
0.06546
1951206
(-8 from 1950)
1364
(-15 from 1950)
0.07384
1950198
(-21 from 1949)
1379
(-173 from 1949)
0.07842
1949177
No change from 1948
1552
(-2 from 1948)
0.08841
1948177
No change from 1947
1554
(-81 from 1947)
0.08917
1947177
No change from 1946
1635
(+135 from 1946)
0.08994
1946177
(-19 from 1945)
1500
(+28 from 1945)
0.09300
1945158
No change from 1944
1472
(-101 from 1944)
0.10935
1944158
(-3 from 1943)
1573
(-91 from 1943)
0.11511
1943155
(-3 from 1942)
1664
(+5 from 1942)
0.11593
1942152
(-11 from 1941)
1659
(-38 from 1941)
0.11931
1941141
(+5 from 1940)
1697
(+27 from 1940)
0.13620
1940146
(-14 from 1939)
1670
(-159 from 1939)
0.14136
1939132
(+8 from 1938)
1829
(+100 from 1938)
0.16128
1938140
(-6 from 1937)
1729
(-19 from 1937)
0.15147
1937134
(-8 from 1936)
1748
(-88 from 1936)
0.15864
1936126
(-4 from 1935)
1836
(-65 from 1935)
0.17039
1935122
(-9 from 1934)
1901
(-170 from 1934)
0.17492
1934113
No change from 1933
2071
(+44 from 1933)
0.19134
1933113
(-5 from 1932)
2027
(-229 from 1932)
0.19378
1932108
(+2 from 1931)
2256
(+94 from 1931)
0.20392
1931110
(-3 from 1930)
2162
(-242 from 1930)
0.19588
1930107
(-5 from 1929)
2404
(-70 from 1929)
0.20609
1929102
(-2 from 1928)
2474
(-196 from 1928)
0.21373
1928100
(-2 from 1927)
2670
(-173 from 1927)
0.22333
192798
No change from 1926
2843
(-9 from 1926)
0.22993
192698
(-5 from 1925)
2852
(-154 from 1925)
0.23184
192593
(+1 from 1924)
3006
(-55 from 1924)
0.23799
192494
(-1 from 1923)
3061
(+66 from 1923)
0.23625
192393
(-3 from 1922)
2995
(-155 from 1922)
0.23913
192290
(-1 from 1921)
3150
(-87 from 1921)
0.25249
192189
(-1 from 1920)
3237
(+5 from 1920)
0.25295
192088
(-1 from 1919)
3232
(+74 from 1919)
0.25980
191987
(-3 from 1918)
3158
(-133 from 1918)
0.26885
191884
(-1 from 1917)
3291
(+237 from 1917)
0.27371
191783
(-2 from 1916)
3054
(+89 from 1916)
0.27178
191681
(-6 from 1915)
2965
(+11 from 1915)
0.27309
191575
(-3 from 1914)
2954
(+646 from 1914)
0.28852
191472
(-2 from 1913)
2308
(+237 from 1913)
0.28972
191370
(-1 from 1912)
2071
(+150 from 1912)
0.31622
191269
(-6 from 1911)
1921
(+317 from 1911)
0.32742
191163
(-1 from 1910)
1604
(+17 from 1910)
0.36305
191062
(-2 from 1909)
1587
(+205 from 1909)
0.37828
190960
(-4 from 1908)
1382
(-46 from 1908)
0.37545
190856
(-2 from 1907)
1428
(-22 from 1907)
0.40279
190754
No change from 1906
1450
(+107 from 1906)
0.42971
190654
(-2 from 1905)
1343
(-95 from 1905)
0.42848
190552
(-4 from 1904)
1438
(+6 from 1904)
0.46408
190448
(+2 from 1903)
1432
(+13 from 1903)
0.48968
190350
(-5 from 1902)
1419
(-106 from 1902)
0.51007
190245
(-3 from 1901)
1525
(+90 from 1901)
0.54400
190142
No change from 1900
1435
(-476 from 1900)
0.56445
190042
No change from 1899
1911
(+409 from 1899)
0.60144
189942
(-3 from 1898)
1502
(-213 from 1898)
0.60690
189839
(-3 from 1897)
1715
(+7 from 1897)
0.62558
189736
No change from 1896
1708
(+25 from 1896)
0.68795
189636
(-1 from 1895)
1683
(-9 from 1895)
0.66788
189535
(-4 from 1894)
1692
(-69 from 1894)
0.68473
189431
(-3 from 1893)
1761
(+1 from 1893)
0.74627
189328
(-1 from 1892)
1760
(-48 from 1892)
0.78142
189227
(-4 from 1891)
1808
(+123 from 1891)
0.80387
189123
No change from 1890
1685
(-73 from 1890)
0.85722
189023
(-1 from 1889)
1758
(+111 from 1889)
0.87175
188922
(-4 from 1888)
1647
(-127 from 1888)
0.87042
188818
(-2 from 1887)
1774
(+253 from 1887)
0.93642
188716
(+3 from 1886)
1521
(+57 from 1886)
0.97862
188619
No change from 1885
1464
(+69 from 1885)
0.95229
188519
No change from 1884
1395
(+21 from 1884)
0.98276
188419
(-3 from 1883)
1374
(+123 from 1883)
0.99866
188316
(-1 from 1882)
1251
(+45 from 1882)
1.04198
188215
(-2 from 1881)
1206
(+58 from 1881)
1.04240
188113
No change from 1880
1148
(-8 from 1880)
1.16130
188013
First SSA data recorded
1156
First SSA data recorded
1.18437

American States Popularity Rankings for Ella

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#262021#352022#372023

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#312021#412022#552023

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#122021#182022#162023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#142021#232022#222023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#152021#152022#162023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#152021#292022#372023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#132021#192022#312023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#212021#222022#252023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#262021#302022#322023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#102021#122022#152023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#162021#362022#342023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#142021#182022#232023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#122021#152022#242023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#122021#392022#242023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#92021#122022#122023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#152021#162022#112023

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#142021#172022#92023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#182021#222022#222023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#182021#232022#242023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#172021#142022#242023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#162021#302022#222023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#102021#282022#302023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#212021#122022#222023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#272021#292022#382023

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#92021#132022#242023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#222021#372022#472023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#302021#262022#212023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#232021#322022#412023

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#242021#262022#742023

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#332021#222022#282023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#252021#242022#302023

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#212021#182022#122023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#302021#412022#382023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#392021#452022#522023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#112021#132022#322023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#232021#182022#362023

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#322021#192022#142023

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#292021#432022#462023

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#172021#192022#292023

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#232021#252022#452023

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#362021#1402022#452023

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#222021#512022#292023

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#212021#352022#262023

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#402021#242022#1412023

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#112021#292022#172023

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#222021#292022#1032023

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#192021#222022#162023

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#592021#202022#612023

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#512021#482022#102023

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#232021#362022#132023

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#512021#622022#242023

Popularity Rankings for Ella in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Denmark

Denmark flagDenmark#42021#12022#4First half of 2023

Popularity in Other American Territories

American Samoa flag American Samoa
Guam flag Guam
Northern Mariana Islands flag Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands flag U.S. Virgin Islands

Other American Territories flagOther American Territories#242018#212019#12022

Popularity in Sweden

Sweden flagSweden#82021#32022#102023

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#42021#42022#32023

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#52021#92022#62023

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#82021#82022#62023

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW) flagAustralia (NSW)#102021#72022#132023

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#82021#122022#72023

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#102021#132022#92023

Popularity in Belgium

Belgium flagBelgium#142020#92021#132022

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#102021#142022#102023

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#122021#202022#222023

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#132020#172021#122022

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#132019#162020#202021

Popularity in Finland

Finland flagFinland#162021#182022#202023

Popularity in Austria

Austria flagAustria#202020#172021#192022

Popularity in Croatia

Croatia flagCroatia#432018#362019

Popularity in Slovakia

Slovakia flagSlovakia#482012#442013#482021

Popularity in France

France flagFrance#902020#672021#662022

Popularity in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina flagBosnia and Herzegovina#952020#752021#822022

Popularity in Greenland

Greenland flagGreenland#762019#792020#892021

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#812020#782021#892022

Popularity in Latvia

Latvia flagLatvia#851920#851925

Popularity in Iceland

Iceland flagIceland#3262021#2352023

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#3342021#3292022#3452023

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Ella a Name for Boys or Girls?

Ella works beautifully for girls because of its graceful and delicate nature, which has been appreciated for generations.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Ella

Ella in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

  • Ella Fitzgerald (Singer, 1917–1996): An American jazz singer, celebrated as the "First Lady of Song" for her impeccable vocal technique and interpretations of the Great American Songbook.
  • Ella Purnell (Actress, born 1996): A British actress recognized for her roles in "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" and "Sweetbitter."
  • Ella Mai (Singer, born 1994): A British singer and songwriter acclaimed for her hit song "Boo'd Up."
  • Ella Henderson (Singer, born 1996): A British singer and songwriter who gained fame as a finalist on "The X Factor" and for her hit single "Ghost."
  • Ella Raines (Actress, 1920–1988): An American film and television actress remembered for her roles in "Phantom Lady" and "Tall in the Saddle."
  • Ella Hunt (Actress, born 1998): A British actress and singer noted for her roles in "Anna and the Apocalypse" and "Dickinson."
  • Ella Hooper (Singer, born 1983): An Australian singer, songwriter, and radio presenter, renowned as the lead singer of the rock band Killing Heidi.
  • Ella Chen (Singer, born 1981): A Taiwanese singer, actress, and television host, and a member of the girl group S.H.E.
  • Ella Lopez ("Lucifer," 2016 TV Series): A forensic scientist with a cheerful personality who assists Lucifer Morningstar in solving crimes.
  • "Ella Enchanted" (2004 Film): Follows Ella, a young woman under a spell that forces her to obey any command, as she embarks on a quest to break the curse.
  • Ella Mae Bowen ("Nashville," 2012 TV Series): A talented singer-songwriter navigating the country music scene.
  • Ella ("Cinderella," 2015 Film): A live-action adaptation of the classic fairy tale, focusing on Ella's journey from rags to royalty.
  • "Ella" (2013 Song by Band-aid): A pop song that explores themes of love and longing.
  • Ella ("Ella the Elephant," 2014 TV Series): An animated series about a young elephant named Ella who uses her magic hat to solve problems.
  • Ella ("Loving Ella," 2020 Novel): A romance novel about a woman named Ella finding love and self-discovery.
  • Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor ("Lorde," 2013 Album "Pure Heroine"): A critically acclaimed debut album by the artist known as Lorde.
  • Ella ("Ella and the Storm," 2018 Children's Book): A children's book about a brave girl named Ella who faces a big storm with courage.
  • Ella Lake (Ontario, Canada): A serene lake in Ontario, known for its fishing and boating activities.
  • Ella Island (Greenland, Denmark): An island in northeastern Greenland featearing its rugged terrain and Arctic research stations.

Similar Names to Ella