Ella

Updated: October 15, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Ella is a girl’s baby name of German and English origin. With a meaning like “fairy maiden,” the name has a magical feel that would be great for any little girl.

Meaning and Origin of the name Ella:

Elle is an elegant sounding girls name German, English, and Hebrew origin meaning “fairy maiden” or “goddess.”

Ella has several different origins, and each origin gives Ella a different meaning. Ella has been used as a diminutive for names such as Eleanor and Ellen as well as some names ending in -ella, such as Isabella. One possible origin for the name Ella is that it's the Norman version of the Germanic name Alia. The prefix ali- means “other”).

Ella also has two possible meanings from its Hebrew origin. The name may be related to the Hebrew word elah (meaning “terebinth tree,” which is type of pistachio tree), though this is unconfirmed. In modern Hebrew, Ella means “goddess.”

Ella also have Spanish roots. In Spanish, Ella is the pronoun for “she.”

Symbolism of the name Ella:

Fairies are creatures of myth that are mischievous and magical. In England, fairies were treated with great respect so as not to anger them.

Nicknames for the name Ella:

Ella is a darling name for a baby girl. Finding a nickname for Ella is a little tricky because it's already such a short name. There are a few options, though. Here is a list of nicknames for Ella that will help you find the right nickname for your baby named Ella.