What Does the Name Ella Mean?
Ella is a girl's name of Germanic / Norman French origin meaning “all, other; or short form.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Ella |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Germanic / Norman French |
| Meaning | all, other; or short form |
| Variants | Ellie, Eleanor, Ellen, Bella |
| Popularity | US Top 20 girls' name throughout the 2010s-2020s |
The meaning and origin of Ella
The name Ella means “all, other; or short form” and has Germanic / Norman French origins. Of Norman French origin from the Germanic 'alia' meaning 'other', also used as a short form of names like Eleanor and Ellen. Famously borne by jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.
Variants and related names
Ella is related to several other names you may recognize: Ellie, Eleanor, Ellen, Bella. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Ella?
US Top 20 girls' name throughout the 2010s-2020s
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Ella below.
Generate a fake Ella profile
Need a complete fictional identity using the name Ella? Generate a full profile — address, phone, email and more — for testing and privacy.
Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ella mean?+
The name Ella means “all, other; or short form” and is of Germanic / Norman French origin.
What is the origin of the name Ella?+
Ella originates from Germanic / Norman French.
Is Ella a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Ella has trended in the US over time.
Ella by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press