Ella
EL-uh /ˈɛl.ə/
Meaning of Ella
Ella is a medieval Germanic short form of names containing the element ali ('all, whole') — most often Adelaide or Eleanor. It came into English use through 11th-century Norman naming. It is also occasionally used as a Hebrew name (אֵלָה, ela — 'oak tree, terebinth'), and the two roots have effectively merged in modern usage.
Current popularity of Ella
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #16 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #30 |
Notable bearers of Ella
Ella Fitzgerald (jazz vocalist); Ella Baker (civil rights organiser); Ella Enchanted.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Ella — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31