How to say it
ELLE
ɛl
Feminine
Elle
She, her
What it means
French for 'she' or 'her,' also a short form of names like Eleanor and Gabrielle.
Elle is the French word for 'she,' crisp and chic, and it doubles as a short form of Eleanor, Ellen, and Gabrielle. The fashion magazine Elle and characters like Elle Woods give it polish and pep. About as sleek as a name gets, just one bright syllable. Said like the letter L.
How to spell Elle
The standard spelling is Elle. Common variants include El, Ele, but Elle is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #355 in 2019, currently #461 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
- Spelling
French for 'she'; also short for Eleanor or Gabrielle.
- Pop culture
Elle magazine; Elle Woods of Legally Blonde.
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.
- Elle Fanning American actress
- Elle Macpherson Australian model and businesswoman
Spelling variants
- El
- Ele
Names with the same feeling
Common questions
- What does the name Elle mean?
- French for 'she' or 'her,' also a short form of names like Eleanor and Gabrielle.
- What does Elle mean in French?
- In French, Elle means "She, her." Elle is the French word for 'she,' crisp and chic, and it doubles as a short form of Eleanor, Ellen, and Gabrielle. The fashion magazine Elle and characters like Elle Woods give it polish and pep. About as sleek as a name gets, just one bright syllable. Said like the letter L.
- Is Elle short for Eleanor?
- Yes. Elle is a short form of Eleanor, and it carries the same meaning, "She, her." These days many parents use Elle as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Elle?
- Elle is pronounced ɛl. Say it as ELLE, with the stress on the "elle" syllable.
- How do you spell Elle?
- The standard spelling is Elle. Common spelling variants include El, Ele.
- Is Elle a boy or girl name?
- Elle is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Elle?
- Elle ranked #461 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.