Ella
Girl name · #29 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Ella? In official American birth records, Ella has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 5,831 baby girls were named Ella, placing it at #29 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #18, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 309 girls born in 2025 was named Ella.
The 145-year story
Ella first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 1,156 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2010, when 9,884 girls were named Ella — good for #13 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Ella per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ella against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ella in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ella is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Ella is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ella is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Ella is most common in VT (15 per 1,000), ND (11 per 1,000), HI (9.8 per 1,000), SD (9.5 per 1,000), DE (9.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 4.5 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ella is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Ella
Ella belongs to the Eleanor family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
Counted as one name, the Eleanor family went to about 19,784 girls in 2025 — together they'd rank around #1, versus #29 for Ella alone.
Names like Ella
Statistically, parents drawn to Ella tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Stella, Layla, Gabriella, Lily, and Zoe.
StellaLaylaGabriellaLilyZoeMayaChloeAva
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ella | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,831 | #29 |
| 2024 | 5,715 | #30 |
| 2023 | 5,670 | #32 |
| 2022 | 6,291 | #25 |
| 2021 | 7,041 | #16 |
| 2020 | 7,372 | #15 |
| 2019 | 8,131 | #13 |
| 2018 | 8,127 | #15 |
| 2017 | 8,084 | #16 |
| 2016 | 7,940 | #17 |
| 2015 | 7,918 | #18 |
| 2014 | 8,570 | #17 |
| 2013 | 8,461 | #15 |
| 2012 | 9,210 | #12 |
| 2011 | 9,597 | #12 |
| 2010 | 9,884 | #13 |
| 2009 | 9,659 | #15 |
| 2008 | 9,364 | #19 |
| 2007 | 9,554 | #21 |
| 2006 | 9,213 | #21 |
| 2005 | 9,072 | #23 |
| 2004 | 8,252 | #29 |
| 2003 | 5,909 | #44 |
| 2002 | 3,567 | #89 |
| 2001 | 1,722 | #190 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ella?
In official American birth records, the name Ella first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 1,156 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ella a popular girl name?
Ella ranked #29 among girls in 2025 with 5,831 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #18.
When was the name Ella most popular?
Ella peaked in 2010, when 9,884 American girls received the name (ranked #13 that year). Since 2010 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ella?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 309 newborn American girls was named Ella. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.