Girl · Germanic (Norman) · International
Ella
EllaSay it EL-uh
- Meaning today
- Light, beautiful fairy
- Original meaning
- "from Old High German Alia, from al 'all'; also short for Eleanor" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Ella
- Say it
- EL-uh
- Other spellings
- Ela, Elle
Ella
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Ella meaning
Ella is an international girl's name of Germanic origin (Norman).
Meaning today
Light, beautiful fairy
Original Germanic (Norman) meaning
"from Old High German Alia, from al 'all'; also short for Eleanor"
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Ella · entry Ella · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Ella is an old name with a simple sound and an uncertain history. Etymonline says that, when it is not a short form of Eleanor, it comes from the Old High German name Alia, built on al, "all". Other references read the root as ali-, "other". It reached England with the Normans. Name lists often give Ella as "light" or "beautiful fairy", but neither sense appears in the etymologies, so they seem to be modern meanings. Its most famous bearer is the jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. For Indian families it is short, clear and works with almost any surname.
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Ella · Wikipedia, Ella (name) · Wikipedia, Ella Fitzgerald
Famous namesakes
- Ella Fitzgerald, American jazz singer
Popularity abroad
- #29 United States, girls 2025 (up 1 from 30 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #46 England and Wales, girls 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Ella · Ela · Elle