Ella
Ella is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Other, foreign, or shortened form of names starting with El-.
Origin and history
Ella is historically a short form of Germanic names containing the element 'alia' (meaning 'other') or an alternate form of Ellen. While overwhelmingly given to females in the U.S., it has a long history of rare usage as a male name. In the United States, male usage remains extremely infrequent and niche.
Popularity in the United States
901 babies in the United States have been named Ella since 1880. It ranks #3777 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1913.
States where it is most popular
- KY (63 %)
- MS (37 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 31 |
| 1890-1900 | 46 |
| 1900-1910 | 78 |
| 1910-1920 | 89 |
| 1920-1930 | 163 |
| 1930-1940 | 159 |
| 1940-1950 | 103 |
| 1950-1960 | 28 |
| 1960-1970 | 19 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 0 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 100 |
| 2010-2019 | 71 |
| 2020-2029 | 14 |
Fun facts
- Although modern usage is predominantly female, Ella has appeared consistently in male U.S. birth records since 1880.
- It originated as an ancient Norman-Germanic prefix or as a variant of Ellen and Eleanor.