Ella

[MrsRV]

Hubby and I love this name and without meaning to we've already been calling baby by the name (we know we're having a girl!).. But 1 small niggle... Is it really really popular???

I have never met one and I go to a nursery and tumble tots class which must include about 80 children in total.

When I was at school there were a few girls called Ellie.

absolutely love the name Ella

It is gorgeous, my DD1 was called that the whole time I was pregnant with her. (But then not once she was born!). It is popular-ish; most of the groups we went to had one in, though that was 8 years ago and I haven't heard of any babies called Ella for a while. If you love it, that matters more.

I have an Ella. I have only met a couple of others, and she is one of only two in her whole school (same class!)

My dd has ella as her middle name. Not met one yet. I love it so much that she actually gets called Ella-boo more than her first name. Love love love it.

I know quite a few aged four and under, but it is absolutely gorgeous, I really like it.

I know lots of babies but only one is called Ella

I only know one Ella. Personally I'd have a longer name such as Eloise, with Ella as nickname.

You'll get an exact answer by looking at the past few years' ONS statistics - it lists how many girls were called Ella in each year. I suspect a lot.

Yes, it is very popular round here (Surrey).

i think it is popular....

but the popular ones are popular for a reason! it is a lovely, classic, name

i wouldn't call it common though (on the lines of amelia, isabel etc)

If you have another dont' call it Sam .....

I know several and they are all about 4 and under too. Not a fan personally.

I have an Ella, I thought it was quite unusual when we chose it but have met a quite a few since, she's the only one I know in her school though. A lot of people mishear or forget and call her Ellie instead which I think is probably more common than Ella.

I know three Ellas, two of whom were born very recently. The other one's in her forties ;)

I know one who is 9 and no others (and I have 2 kids under the age of 6)

Yes, really really really really really really popular. I know hundreds of them.

"but the popular ones are popular for a reason - it's a lovely and classic name"

The only reason names become popular is because a lot of people have the same idea and/or follow the same trends, thereby making a name very popular. As soon as people tire of it, these names fall out of favour again. Names like Sharon, Sarah, Andrew, Wayne, Stephen were all popular names in the 1960/70s but that doesn't make them 'lovely' names. And, by the way, I have nothing against these names - I just think comments like 'it's popular because it is a lovely name' are a little short sighted imo.

Lots of people obviously thought so at the time! But I agree, fashions and tastes change.

"Names like Sharon, Sarah, Andrew, Wayne, Stephen were all popular names in the 1960/70s but that doesn't make them 'lovely' names."

good point - i hadn't looked at it that way! thanks for pulling me up :)

i think ella is lovely regardless.

funny how times change though. My DS and most friends DCs have what are now referred to as 'old fashioned names' (elizabeth, rosie, jack, alexander, george etc) and we joke that their kids will be called names like jean, sheila, derek, roger as they may well all come back!

p.s. no offence to any jeans, sheilas, dereks or rogers intended!

I know several but I do love it. A midwife firend described it as "the new Ruby" -though I actually haven't gone off Ruby yet!

I think its popular - for babies and cats!!

Maybe a NN for the trillions of Isabella's round here, but don't know any...

It is very familiar though and I've just realised it is from the Ella's Kitchen organic food range! They are extremely popular round here (have a look in the baby food aisle).

I know a fair few of all ages. it is definitely popular. Nice name.