Thoughts on Ella? How many do you know?

[Yesso]

I really like it and DH hasn’t said no , so technically the only name we’ve agreed on so far.
Is it a popular baby name where you are ? I know quite a few Bella’s at the moment but no Ella’s.

We have one in our family she's 10. A friends mum is also Ella in her late 60's. That's the only ones I know.

Doesn't seem super popular at my kids ages 4 and 7 we don't know any. It's all Ava's, Olivia's and Grace/Gracie round here!

Several between two and 23.

Sorry forgot to say I only know 3 in RL (but am in Wales if that makes a difference) 1 older which is short for Eleanor and 2 of toddler age (have a DS of that age so go to a lot of toddler groups). Eva/Efa is far more popular than Ella here.

I dislike it, it is basically means 'other', 'her' or 'she' or is added to a masculine name to feminise it. As others have said, a bit nothingy.

Bit dull.

Loads. Very common

I have an ella who is 19 now. Never found it to be very common in the south east. I still love the name and it suits her very much ❤️

I know an Ella as a standalone name. (aged around 14)

Elowen nn Ella (aged 7)

Gabriella nn Ella (aged 30-ish)

And a Helena that became Ella. (aged 30-ish)

I think it's absolutely beautiful. I know two and there isn't any in my dc primary school.

Oh! And way back in the day an Ellersleigh. She was at school with me and nn Ella. Not sure if I spelt her full name right though.

Do we focus on what our names translate to? I wonder what your name is...

@Allthegoodusernamesareused , I think you are thinking of Elle not Ella.

I like it …..but v popular…..and lots of girls in class with NN of ella

It’s nice. I know three - baby, toddler and tween.

People on Mumsnet will generally tell you horror stories about statistically popular names. Someone will apparently know 4 in a class. Someone else will say their kid goes to school with at least 20 of them etc.

In reality, popularity changes from area to area. Ella may be quite popular in some areas, but will hardly be used in others. I've been teaching for over 15 years and I only know one Ella under the age of 10. It seems fairly popular around me with teenagers but has really dropped off in recent years. It's nowhere near as popular now as it was in the late 00s/early 2010s. There are lots of El names in the top 100 (Ella, Ellie, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Eliza, Eloise, Elodie etc), which probably makes it seem more popular than it is as an individual name.

Ella is a nice, elegant name. Go for it.

Thanks everyone, very helpful advice ! I do agree with most of the negative comments about it I guess that’s what is putting me off it, but I really do love it at the same time.
DH has suggested Stella instead which while similar seems too out there for me, I’ve never come across a Stella (maybe why it seems quite unusual to me). Anyone have any thoughts on it please?

No I wouldn’t….the association with the lager would put me off….and it’s a popular name for staffies where I live

Stella immediately makes me think Artois.

i love Ella. Ela is the feminine form of the Hebrew el meaning god and also refers to the terebinth tree which is known for being strong and resilient

My older children are in their early twenties and it was incredibly popular then - there were quite a few in their schools around their age group.

My younger son is 9 and there seems significantly less Ellas - I can only think of one in his year group.

It's possibly not as common now as it was.

Three humans, upper primary/lower secondary age.

One tabby cat.

How about Estelle? Same meaning (star) but I personally think it's prettier. I definitely associate Stella with the lager.

Stella is pretty and more substantial and I don’t think of it as that unusual ( I think it’s been Top 100 in the past). I’d think star before I thought of the lager (star is a very obvious meaning) or A Streetcar named Desire. I just prefer 3 syllable Estella even more - feels a touch more elegant and the nn Essie is cute.

Agree it’s bland and amongst Evie, Ava, Isla in terms of over done-ness. I love Eleanor though. Names are so hard nowadays! My kids names have already dated. If I was to choose again I’d just go with a classic like Catherine or Victoria.

Lovely name.

I know 2 - both late teens. There are none in DCs primary school & I haven't heard of a baby being called ella for a long time round here.

I know a lot of Ella and Ellies through work. A similar amount of Isla.

The majority also have Rose or Mae as a middle name too