Ella or Lila ?

[Onefineday01]

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?

Lila

Ella. Ella Grace is fine but every other Ella will be Ella May or Ella Grace.
I don't like Lila and it is too close to Lily, Isla, Lola, Lyra etc. Lily and Isla are quite nice.

There are so many Ellas and Ellies, and El- and -ella names that is does seem a bit overused, and I think the trend will fall out of favour soon.
Babies called Ella in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)

I have an Ella, she’s almost 22 and I still love her names as much as the day we named her.

I so would have chosen Ella Grace but surname is too similar to Grace, so wouldn’t work.

Her best friend is Ella Joy.

I love Ella Kate
Ella Juliet
Ella Bridget
Ella Celeste
Ella Isobel
Ella Genevieve
Ella Lucille

Both pretty popular (not so much Lila, but it’s so close to other hugely popular names), for goodness sake don’t have Grace as a middle name too, you may as well call her Citizen12856947363!

If I had to choose it would be Lila because there are just so many Ellies it’s ridiculous.

Ella is a beautiful name but sadly ubiquitous. How about giving her a longer name, with nickname Ella? Then she has choice as an adult to use either - eg if she finds she’s one of many Ella-derivatives in her workplace and wants to stand out?
eg
Isabella
Annabella
Daniella
Gabriella
Gisella
Ariella
Antonella
Estella
Della
Elsie (wildcard option - due a comeback?)

I prefer Lila but you might get different pronunciations - Leela or Lyla?

I kind of prefer the name Lyla anyway. Ella is sweet too so I don't think you can go wrong.

Leila is better than Lila. Lila sounds like it’s short for Lilian. Is it Ly-la or pronounced Li-la with a short “i”. People will get it wrong.

I love both. Ella feels more classic / timeless, and Lila feels a bit more modern / in line with current trends. I think I’d pick Ella as it fits my other kids names better, but both are lovely.

The comeback is already well on the way for Elsie - it's more popular than Ella!

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.

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

And Lila makes me think of the Oasis song.

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.

Much prefer Lila

Ella is very popular so I would opt for Lila.

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?

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.

I love the name Elspeth.

Esther. Love it.

Lila

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

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.

Lila.

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

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').

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