Ella

♀ Girl

Pronounced EL-uh /ˈɛl.ə/High

Meaning: All; completely; fairy maiden; from Germanic ermen or Norman FrenchMedium

In 30 seconds: A beautifully simple name with Germanic and Greek roots meaning 'all' or 'completely.' Ella has been in or near the U.S. top 15 girls' names for over a decade.

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Origin HighGermanic, Norman French, Greek

MeaningAll; completely; fairy maiden; from Germanic ermen or Norman French

U.S. rank (2025)#29 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births5,831 girls (0.36% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2010

Total births (all-time)≈ 351,232

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ella is of uncertain but likely Germanic origin, either from the Old High German element ermen or alja meaning 'all' or 'other,' or as a Norman French short form of Eleanor or Isabella. In some traditions it relates to the Greek Hellas (Greece) or fairy-tale associations.

Ella was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ella Fitzgerald's fame kept the name in cultural consciousness through the mid-20th century. It experienced a major revival in the late 1990s, entering the U.S. top 20 by the early 2000s and consistently ranking in the top 15 since.

Did you know? Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996), the 'Queen of Jazz,' won 13 Grammy Awards and is widely considered the greatest female jazz vocalist in history. Her name's association with effortless grace and vocal elegance has given Ella an enduring musical identity.

Variations

ElleElaElah

Nicknames

ElEllie

Famous Bearers

★Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996)
American jazz singer, the 'Queen of Jazz,' 13-time Grammy winner.

If you like Ella…

Emma— shares the short, classic two-syllable top-five feel

Ava— equally brief and vowel-bookended girls' classic

Ellie— closely related with the same El- warmth

Lily— another two-syllable natural-beauty name in the top 20

Mia— shares the crisp, sweet, universal appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ella mean?

Ella likely comes from the Old High German element ermen meaning 'all' or 'complete,' though it may also be a short form of Eleanor or Isabella with different meanings.

How do you pronounce Ella?

Ella is said EL-uh /ˈɛl.ə/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Ella a boy or girl name?

Ella is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Ella?

Ella has ranked in the U.S. top 15 girls' names consistently since the mid-2000s, a remarkable revival of a classic name.