Declining since 2010, #29 for girls today.
Popularity of Ella since 1880
Babies named Ella per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2010, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ella's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 13,936 |
| 1890s | 17,072 |
| 1900s | 14,763 |
| 1910s | 24,913 |
| 1920s | 29,521 |
| 1930s | 19,962 |
| 1940s | 15,977 |
| 1950s | 11,038 |
| 1960s | 5,176 |
| 1970s | 2,096 |
| 1980s | 1,576 |
| 1990s | 3,897 |
| 2000s | 67,544 |
| 2010s | 85,922 |
| 2020s | 37,920 |
Meaning & origin
Ella was already at its zenith when American record-keeping began: in the Social Security data, 1880, the first year on file, stands as its peak. That makes it a genuine nineteenth-century name, not a modern invention with an antique sound, and its trajectory since has been a long fade followed by one of the great vintage comebacks of the late 1990s and 2000s.
The comeback has now crested. Ella has been easing since 2010, but gently, it still ranked 29th in 2025, given to about one girl in 276. Its strongest footholds are rural and northern: Vermont, North Dakota, and Wyoming lead the country, a pattern common to the vintage revival names that took deepest root outside the big metros.
Ella's charm is its economy: two syllables, universally spellable, dignified enough for Ella Fitzgerald and Ella Baker, and airy enough for a toddler. Parents who want the sound with more formality on the birth certificate often reach for Eleanor or Isabella and keep Ella as the everyday name; those who choose it outright get a name past its trend peak and settling into classic status.
Ella has two intertwined histories. The medieval name was brought to England by the Normans as a short form of Germanic compound names containing the element alia, "other"; it appears in English records from the twelfth century. In modern use it functions equally as an independent name and as a pet form of Eleanor, Ellen, Elizabeth, Isabella, and Gabriella, which helped power its huge popularity in Victorian America. Its association with jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald gave it lasting glamour through the twentieth century, and the late-1990s revival of vintage names carried it back into the American top 30.
Read more: Ella on Wikipedia
Where Ella is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ella” around the world
Where Ella lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#68
in 2024
Ireland
#17
in 2025
New Zealand
#13
in 2025
Quebec
#73
in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#11
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ellie, Elle
Famous people named Ella
- Ella Fitzgerald · American jazz singer known as the First Lady of Song
- Ella Baker · American civil rights organizer
- Ella Purnell · English actress
Sibling names for Ella
Names that share Ella's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Ava, Lily, Isla, Clara, Nora, Adalynn, Charley, Cora, Dora, Evie, Ida, Lia, Reese, Abbi, Abbie, Addie, Adela, Adelynn, Alianna, Alline, Aretha, Arie, Aryana, Bulah, Corine, Effie, Emmy, Esme, Gabby, Janna, Jemma, Leyna, Lilyana, Livia, Lucie, Lyla, Maddison, Marnie, Melany, Miah, Nelle, Norah, Ola, Ora, Ottie, Ryley, Zoie, Adalee, Allena, Amee, Annah, Annalynn, Aubrianna, Avah, Aylah, Ayva, Bea, Berna, Brynna, Cloey, Dyana, Eda, Edyn, Elizah, Emmer, Emrie, Emy, Erie, Evy, Genie, Graci, Graycen, Isley, Iyla, Jaedyn, Kloe, Laynie, Leiah, Lera, Letty, Liah, Lilyan, Maisy, Marlie, Maryn, Maycie, Mazie, Meah, Mel, Milah, Minna, Mykah, Teah, Voncile, Adda, Adra, Aeryn, Ahna, Alesa, Alexsa, Aliannah, Alie, Alis, Ameila, Amillia, Amyla, Amylia, Analis, Anni, Arah, Arynn, Auna, Aunna, Aurie, Avangeline, Avari, Avory, Avry, Avy, Brin, Bronte, Callee, Cece, Chanie, Charle, Charlea, Cissy, Clarie, Clary, Darlin, Davia, Dela, Dicie, Drea, Elah, Elis, Elivia, Ellar, Elleana, Eller, Elsia, Emmah, Emmaly, Emorie, Enna, Evee, Graceanne, Graceyn, Ilean, Ilma, Ivee, Jema, Josi, Journii, Khalessi, Kyri, Leala, Leianna, Lillee, Lissie, Livi, Livie, Livy, Loula, Lyna, Lyvia, Lyza, Ma, Maddalyn, Mailyn, Mar, Matty, Mayli, Mell, Mily, Moncia, Nataliah, Natalyn, Nely, Olla, Opha, Renesmae, Samella, Shella, Signa, Vangie, Vivi, Abri, Adaleah, Adaly, Ader, Ahnna, Aily, Aivah, Alivea, Allice, Allina, Allyna, Alyviah, Aneth, Arkie, Aubrei, Avamae, Aviannah, Ayde, Camyla, Clela, Der, Eleah, Ellamae, Ellarie, Ellary, Emalia, Emary, Emie, Emilyanne, Emmory, Enma, Eria, Everley, Evvie, Haylo, Ivori, Jayd, Jossalyn, Joury, Kalleigh, Klair, Kynzie, Lannah, Liany, Libi, Liliah, Lillah, Lilliah, Lilymae, Lya, Lylian, Maezie, Maie, Maly, Merrin, Milany, Nolie, Noraa, Para, Rachyl, Rayen, Sorah, Trella, Varina, Avalie, Avey, Edit, Ezella, Lenah, Abbagale, Abrey, Adie, Adisson, Ady, Adylin, Aidy, Aislee, Alle, Amalee, Amillya, Annaleese, Arnella, Aubriee, Avagail, Avarae, Avree, Ayme, Bellarae, Charlii, Cici, Elleri, Elliett, Ellyce, Ezrie, Gabbi, Gracilyn, Helvi, Ilee, Itha, Jaidence, Johnye, Joyia, Lafaye, Laiah, Laianna, Letzy, Lile, Lilyahna, Linlee, Lucee, Madason, Mally, Marloe, Marybella, Matison, Maty, Mialynn, Molleigh, Morgin, Navie, Nel, Nelliel, Olar, Orean, Ovi, Pryncess, Rosealynn, Savanha, Sophiagrace, Sosie, Via, Vicke, Vincie, Zeidy, Zoejane
Brothers: Owen, Leo, Ethan, Miles, Caleb, Liam, Lucas, Alec, Alex, Caden, Chase, Clay, Cole, Drew, Eddie, Elton, Emmett, Gavin, Jayce, Jonas, Julian, Max, Willie, Aarin, Aden, Beckett, Caine, Cal, Chas, Clark, Davis, Dell, Dock, Duke, Eber, Eddy, Edson, Eithan, Ely, Emil, Emmitt, Evans, Ever, Gabrial, Gideon, Griffin, Harris, Horace, Isa, Jaeden, Jakob, Jaxton, Jonatan, Judson, Kade, Kaeden, Keaton, Kenan, Kylan, Laroy, Layton, Lian, Louie, Mccoy, Mikah, Nat, Patric, Rayden, Robby, Robie, Sonny, Van, Vince, Wes, Zayne, Adler, Adyn, Aj, Alen, Aren, Aston, Aven, Chazz, Coen, Dany, Daxon, Desmon, Edin, Eiden, Elson, Emmit, Estill, Ewell, Eyan, Geo, Haden, Haydn, Hazen, Jacen, Jaymes, Joell, Jr, Kaidyn, Kaisen, Kallen, Kellin, Kylian, Leeroy, Leyton, Link, Lochlan, Loy, Macon, Mikey, Mylo, Quin, Vic, Waylan, Wesly, Westen, Yancey, Young, Zade, Zak, Aaric, Acen, Ade, Adien, Adric, Aeden, Aeson, Aidon, Amey, Andruw, Augie, Axell, Boss, Bransen, Byrd, Carlson, Cobey, Corde, Dalan, Dodge, Dom, Earley, Edy, Eidan, Elex, Elven, Emit, Emitt, Emmette, Enis, Eriq, Eyden, Fitz, Grahm, Greyden, Hadden, Hardie, Harve, Holten, Isidor, Ja, Jaccob, Jakson, Jaymeson, Jj, Julyan, Kaeson, Kaileb, Keylor, Knight, Koltin, Kowen, Lleyton, Lliam, Logun, Marck, Milas, Nason, Naythan, Nolin, Odus, Orren, Ostin, Quinnton, Real, Syon, Venson, Witten, Wynton, Aaran, Abron, Adain, Aidden, Aidenn, Alexxander, Alic, Amish, Anner, Arran, Aryon, Aydenn, Bodin, Cabe, Cane, Cauy, Chayson, Colyn, Damain, Daved, Dayden, Edder, Edon, Elvert, Elye, Espn, Ethin, Fredis, Garrette, Gavan, Graceson, Graison, Grason, Greycen, Hamp, Hemi, Isiac, Izen, Izzac, Jacobb, Jayvier, Jedi, Jonus, Kaemon, Kayn, Koleson, Leam, Leeam, Leevi, Linc, Lio, Lj, Luken, Masson, Matson, Maxen, Maxwel, Merek, Myheir, Mykell, Mylez, Nashton, Nathin, Okey, Ollen, Owynn, Rhen, Thelonious, Traves, Westlee, Whyatt, Wyatte, Wyeth, Zaccary, Zaydyn, Zeek, Albi, Asheton, Briggston, Caid, Charlies, Emrik, Garrit, Jaydien, Aadon, Aari, Add, Adden, Adean, Aeric, Aidian, Aidynn, Aison, Aydien, Barlow, Benett, Benney, Brexten, Cace, Caylum, Clanton, Cloyde, Damyen, Daxen, Dorr, Dover, Eann, Eddi, Elber, Elford, Eljay, Ell, Elo, Emett, Emmons, Exander, Ezaiah, Forney, Gid, Harvy, Huie, Inmer, Irbin, Ison, Issiac, Izzak, Jachob, Jacksyn, Jaimin, Jameison, Jaxsun, Jaymason, Jeury, Kaiven, Kastin, Keyner, Kyston, Lanson, Leelynd, Leiam, Leny, Lewi, Lexander, Loden, Login, Lyal, Macio, Math, Maxtyn, Maxxwell, Nethan, Nikolus, Noan, Noeh, Ohn, Oli, Orby, Robben, Roey, Rogen, Seith, Tallis, Tellis, Wyat, Wyett
Names like Ella
Names whose popularity has moved with Ella's over the last 50 years.
