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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Ella or Lila ?

35 replies

Onefineday01 · 20/10/2024 13:29

DD due in Jan and really struggled with names, I think we’re down to Lila or Ella.
I know both are quite popular but I’ve not actually met any recently so it’s not really putting me off.
Also not sure on a middle name, husband really likes Grace but I want to avoid anything like that as I’m guessing there’s plenty of Lila/Ella Grace’s out there already. Any ideas?

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Dearnurse · 15/07/2025 22:13

I have a 14 year old Eleanor.. she's called Elle at school or nell,we call her ellie, I love her name, Ella is a possible nickname.. I like lily much more than lila .. there are alot of both but there's more and more unusual names rather than the classics .. I love Alice & would have had one this time if I wasn't having a boy, I also have a sophie (fi fi) & love her name too x

Rowena191 · 15/07/2025 12:09

NormaSears · 06/07/2025 12:03

ZOMBIE THREAD

That's a terrible name!

TidyAmberPoster · 15/07/2025 12:05

Prefer Lila to Ella and also prefer Lila spelling to Lyla!

NormaSears · 13/07/2025 18:49

Lira has some currency.Wink

@Goldencats ,the baby was due in January.

Goldencats · 13/07/2025 18:47

I know about 12 Ellas from toddlers to teens to 20s to 30s. The most unremarkable name I can imagine, baffles me to no end people choose this. Lira is nicer but I think you can do better than both of these names.

NormaSears · 06/07/2025 12:03

ZOMBIE THREAD

aquadog · 06/07/2025 11:02

I personally dislike the name Ella - I think it's such a nothing name. Lila is better.

NormaSears · 30/06/2025 09:33

@Beccajf , the baby was due in January. They'll have named her months ago.

Beccajf · 29/06/2025 14:51

Lila! Ella is pretty but so popular and common. Lila seems more special.

blindasaba51981 · 23/10/2024 18:34

Annabelle
Anastasia
Gabriella
Arabella
Natasha
Estelle
Elle
Leah
Natalia

Moreteaandchocolate · 23/10/2024 16:08

Leah, Zoe, Clara, Lara, Cara, Ayla, Layla, Mila, Lucy, Orla, Milly, Molly, Lena, Iris, Heidi, Mara, Nia, Zara, Ada, Thea, Mali, Callie, Esme, Holly, Hazel, Phoebe, Poppy, Penny, Rosie, Tessa, Nina, Della

twentysevendresses · 23/10/2024 13:17

Lila is lovely (but I'd use the Lyla spelling as I'd want it to be pronounced this way, not 'leela' which is how I'd probably say it with an 'i').

Carouselfish · 23/10/2024 10:35

Lila.

There are so many Ellas now it seems like a blank noise.

TizerorFizz · 20/10/2024 20:37

As a fan of 60s music and the Kinks, Lola would be out for me! But I’m old!

Leila, Lillian, Ester, Aimee, Nancy, Eleanor, Bella, Eloise, Lydia, Leni, Helena, Claudia, Dinah or Lois. We went quite unusual for our DDs. Speaking to DD yesterday, she actually commented how her name got her noticed and remembered. It’s been useful for networking apparently.

shoopshoopdedoo · 20/10/2024 20:06

Oops sorry didn’t read your update! How about Lola, Lois, Esme, Anya?

shoopshoopdedoo · 20/10/2024 20:05

Lila

NeckolasCage · 20/10/2024 19:22

Esther. Love it.

Tulipvase · 20/10/2024 19:12

I love the name Elspeth.

Tulipvase · 20/10/2024 19:12

I might be biased as I have a late teen called Ella but I have come across far more Lila's in the schools I’ve worked at.

Original poster
Onefineday01 · 20/10/2024 19:05

Such mixed feedback I don’t feel any further forward 😂
I know they’re both quite popular but personally I don’t know any. I know numerous Elsie’s.
Maybe we should go back to the drawing board. Our sons name is only just inside the top 100 which is also putting me off using a popular girls name.

Does anyone have any suggestions of names with a similar feel but maybe less popular?

OP posts:
FuzzyGoblin · 20/10/2024 18:18

Ella is very popular so I would opt for Lila.

Firsttimebabymummy · 20/10/2024 18:16

Much prefer Lila

JimNast · 20/10/2024 14:49

Babies called Elsie in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)
Due a comeback?!

Ella is nice enough and I don't see the point of using a longer name if it's not going to be used. If you did go for a longer name, I'd go for something like Estella to keep the same initial, but you run the risk of her choosing to be Essie or Stel.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 20/10/2024 14:40

Sorry OP but Ella just makes me think of Rihanna - Umbrella song.

And Lila makes me think of the Oasis song.

Atishooo · 20/10/2024 14:35

I like Lila, not keen on Ella as it’s so bland and a bit nothingy. Yes every Lila and Ella will be a Lila/Ella Grace/Rose/May. They are the filler middle names for every girl currently and have been done to death. I think there’s an Ella Rose in my DC’s class thinking about it.