Ella is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #39 in 2024. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Hebrew/Germanic — Goddess; all; fairy maiden
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UK Rank 2024
#39
US Rank #30
About the Name Ella
Ella is holding steady in the rankings at #39. It reached its peak of #6 in 2015 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 29 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
Etymologically, Ella comes from Hebrew/Germanic, where it means "Goddess; all; fairy maiden". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Ella is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
It ranks similarly in the US at #30, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Ella
Unlikely. With around 1,108 UK babies named Ella per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Ella in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Ella has held a stable position around #39 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #6 in 2015 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Ella has Hebrew/Germanic origins and means "Goddess; all; fairy maiden". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Ella include: Captain Ella — Ella Waweya, known widely as "Captain Ella" (Hebrew: קפטן אלה, Arabic: كابتن إيلا), is an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officer who holds the rank of lieutenant...; Ella (Malaysian singer) — Nor Zila binti Aminuddin (Jawi: نور زيلا بنت أمين الدين ; IPA: Malay pronunciation: [ˈnʊrˈzila ˈbinti ˈaminudɪn]; born 31 July 1966), known by her stage name...; Ella Bright — Ella Bright is an American-born British actress..
Ella ranks #30 in the US (2024), making it comfortably inside the American top 100. It's well-liked on both sides of the Atlantic.
1,108
UK babies named Ella (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.6
In a school of 600
↓ 23 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Ella
Likely around 1 other Ella in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Ella
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Ella Waweya, known widely as "Captain Ella" (Hebrew: קפטן אלה, Arabic: كابتن إيلا), is an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officer who holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. She is the highest-ranking Muslim Arab woman in the IDF and is currently serving as the Spokesperson for the IDF's Arabic media, heading the Arabic communications department.
Nor Zila binti Aminuddin (Jawi: نور زيلا بنت أمين الدين ; IPA: Malay pronunciation: [ˈnʊrˈzila ˈbinti ˈaminudɪn]; born 31 July 1966), known by her stage name Ella, is a Malaysian singer, actress and entrepreneur. She began her career in 1983 at the age of 19 with a local band called Moonracker.
Ella Williams, also known by her stage name Mme Abomah, was an American performer. She was a woman of extraordinary height and strength who became an international celebrity in the late 1800s.
Mark Gordon Ella, AM is an indigenous Australian former rugby union footballer. Ella played at flyhalf/five-eighth and was capped by the Wallabies 25 times, captaining Australia on 10 occasions.
Ella Little-Collins was an American civil rights activist and the half-sister of Malcolm X. She was born in Butler, Georgia, to Earl Little and Daisy Little (née Mason); her paternal grandparents were John (Big Pa) Lee Little and Ella Little (née Gray), and her siblings were Mary Little and Earl Lee Little Jr.
Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Grasso was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 83rd governor of Connecticut from January 8, 1975, to December 31, 1980, after rejecting past offers of candidacies for Senate and governor. She was the first woman elected governor in Connecticut and the fourth woman to be elected governor of a U.S.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. Her works include the collection Poems of Passion and the poem "Solitude", which contains the lines "Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone." Her autobiography, The Worlds and I, was published in 1918, a year before her death.