Is this a nice name? Doubts!

[allrags]

I like the name Ella but have received a lukewarm reaction to it by some when I have revealed my name ideas. Its very popular apparently but do you think this has 'devalued' it as a name? I haven't had the same reaction when I say I like Emily of Jessica both of which are equally popular. Am I missing something - is Ella not seen as a nice name?

The only Ella I know is in her 50's.

I like it (but then I don't have a university education).

Yes totally devalued sorry. Now so common it has lost what little appeal it once had. Am sure you can come up with a much better name for your baby.

I'm another university graduate (and post-grad with an Masters degree) who really likes the name Ella.

It was on our list for DD1. And, contrary to what has been posted by some, it is a name in it's own right and has rather lovely meanings, depending on where is cited as the country of origin. I know in German it comes from a word which means 'all, everything, complete' (can't think of the German word off the top of my head) and in Old English (I think) it means 'beautiful fairy maiden; beauty bestowed by fairies as a birth gift.' I know that the name has been around in England since the 11th Cetury, so ... Yes, it's popular but it has a long history: as names that are generally considerd to be nice tend to do!

I have a friend with an Ella and she is NNed 'Elle' and 'Elles'. Other friends of ours comment to her about how cool 'Elle' will sound when she's in her teens. I'm inclined to agree!

So, yes it is popular, but if you like it, to heck with people's very rude responses. It's not like you're wanting to call her Princess Tiamii, is it?

Which brings me to another point: just what do people want, anyway? A nice name that the baby can grow happily into a woman from (such as Jessica, Mia, Libby, etc) or some desperately trying-too-hard-to-be-different name?

Ah, and on the cool stakes - Ella Fitzgerald, anyone?

Thanks everyone for helping out, lots of different theories so am now even more confused . I'm beginning to think, though, that the comments I've had are as a result of snobbery.

I think Ella's lovely name but had no idea it was seen like this.

Not sure what being University educated has to do with it...... but I have a BA degree in Economics and I find Ella, whilst a nice name, a little overused these days. To me the point of naming someone is to identify him or her and giving your daughter a name that is already used by thousands of other little girls won't achieve this (on its own), so she will probably have to add an initial or other modifier to her name.

So, whether a name is 'nice' is very subjective and depends on a lot of factors including (imo) how widely it is already used.

It's lovely, but I'd steer clear as it is so popular now. Several in DS1s school year (all born to uni educated parents, FWIW!) Wonder if it's regional. In London every single girl we met born the same year as DS1 seemed to be called some version of Mathilda: Milly, Tillie, Tilda, Mattie and all the boys were Ben - five in our street alone. Now in home counties all the girls are Ella and all the boys are Sam.

I wouldn't use it in Scotland. Otherwise, it's lovely.

It is beyond popular. I teach secondary and can't move for Elle's, Ella's and Ellie's. If you still like it, it's not awful, but not fabulous either.

Born2BRiiiled - would you mind divulging what other girls names are very popular? I really have no idea! I like Emily, but again, I think there may be loads in each school year.

It's a nice name, I only know one Ella, but there are lots of variations, such as Ellie, so it's not going to be a terribly unique name. But if you love it, then use it.
Saying that, I thought my DD's name was not common and yet there are 2 others at her tiny school and I know 2 babies with the same name!

Born, would you mind please also saying what region you're in? We're W.Mids with a daughter at Pre-school age. We know only one Ella, but know of a few, and hear of many more, Ellie's. Thanks - just interested :)

I love it. We have one and no, we don't know any others. It depends on where you live.

The only advice I can give you is DO NOT DISCUSS BABY NAMES WITH ANYONE prior to baby's arrival.

Everyone will have a sodding opinion and if you love it use it

Oh and I have a university education and live in Scotland - not sure why either of these make a difference though

We have 3 daughters. According to MN baby naming wisdom DD1 has an overused/dull name. DD2 has a chavvy name and DD3 has a name that should only be used for boys.

I love them all

Okay. Millie and Mollie are also v popular. Holly too. Megan is quite well used. Bear in mind, these are 11 yrs and up, not babies. We are in the North.

And every second child here is Eilidh, Isla or Caitlyn (in various spellings)

Here its Eve/Evie/Eva. One third of the girls in DDs class are named a variant of Eve rather confusing. Lots of Ella/Ellies too. These names are this generations Sarah and Jo equivalents i.e. perfectly decent names but now so common they are rendered deeply dull. There are so many great names out there why follow the herd?!

I once heard two older ladies discussing a new baby and one was telling the other that the baby didn't have a name, just letters "L" "a"

They were having a good old chat about the youth of today.

I'm not fond of it - very dull, plus ella means 'come here' in Greek and we have lots of Greek people living in my community. They're always calling out to their grandkids "Ella ella".

That said it's certainly not an offensive name.