How to say it
EL · uh
ˈɛl.ə
Feminine
Ella
All, complete (or 'goddess')
What it means
Two roots converge here. The Germanic Ella means 'all' or 'completely,' a short form of names like Eleonora. The Hebrew Ella means 'goddess,' and in modern Hebrew also names the terebinth tree.
Ella came to English with the Norman conquest in 1066 and stayed in quiet use for centuries. The modern revival started in the 1990s, helped along by the singer Ella Fitzgerald's legacy and a broader fashion for short, vowel-heavy girls' names. Ella often serves as a nickname for Eleanor, Ellen, Elizabeth, or Isabella, but stands on its own just as comfortably. Currently US top twenty for girls.
How to spell Ella
The standard spelling is Ella. Common variants include Ela, Elle, Ellah, but Ella is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #12 in 2011, currently #29 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Sometimes a given name in its own right, sometimes a short for Eleanor, Isabella, or Gabriella. Worth deciding which up front.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Ella Fitzgerald First Lady of Song, jazz vocalist
- Ella Baker Civil rights organizer, behind-the-scenes architect of SNCC
Spelling variants
- Ela
- Elle
- Ellah
Names with the same feeling
See Ella from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Ella mean?
- Two roots converge here. The Germanic Ella means 'all' or 'completely,' a short form of names like Eleonora. The Hebrew Ella means 'goddess,' and in modern Hebrew also names the terebinth tree.
- What does Ella mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Ella means "All, complete (or 'goddess')." Ella came to English with the Norman conquest in 1066 and stayed in quiet use for centuries. The modern revival started in the 1990s, helped along by the singer Ella Fitzgerald's legacy and a broader fashion for short, vowel-heavy girls' names. Ella often serves as a nickname for Eleanor, Ellen, Elizabeth, or Isabella, but stands on its own just as comfortably. Currently US top twenty for girls.
- How do you pronounce Ella?
- Ella is pronounced ˈɛl.ə. Say it as EL-uh, with the stress on the "el" syllable.
- How do you spell Ella?
- The standard spelling is Ella. Common spelling variants include Ela, Elle, Ellah.
- Is Ella a boy or girl name?
- Ella is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Ella?
- Ella ranked #29 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.