ELLA  

Gender: F
Origin: German
Meaning: "fairy maiden"

Popularity in 2008: #19

One of the fastest rising names among the glitterati -- including the John Travoltas, the Warren Beattys, Ben Stiller, Eric Clapton, and Mark Wahlberg -- riding on the coattails of both the Isabella and Emma bandwagons. Ella Fitzgerald adds jazzy edge.

Variations:
Elly, Elletta, Ela, Ellia, Alia, Elley, Ellah, Ellina, Elli, Ellamae, Ellie, Ellette, Elladine

People who like Ella also like:

Evelyn, Ava, Clementine, Hazel, Rose, Ruby, Scarlett, Sophia, Henry, Benjamin, Jackson, Oliver, Felix, Noah, Levi

Ella is being discussed in our message boards:

• R Girl Names
• Alternitives to the top 10 boys and girls names!
• A brother or sister for little Jack or Olivia
• Best of British - some Telegraph birth announcements
• Popular names you just don't 'get'.

Read Nameberry blog posts about Ella:

• OLD LADY NAMES: Ready for the Next Wave?
• HEROINE NAMES: Worthy Women with Notable Names, Part 2: Cultural Icons
• NEW NAMES IN THE CELEBRISPHERE
• ADDISON & EDISON: Girl-Boy Name Equality
• VINTAGE NAMES: 100-Year-Old Names That Sound New Again