Ella
Girl name · #29 in 2025 · Uniqueness 44/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ella against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ella in class?
Ella scores 44 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ella is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ella is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Ellas were CA (561), TX (476), NY (375), FL (374), PA (236). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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, Bella, Layla, Isabella, and Gabriella.
StellaBellaLaylaIsabellaGabriellaLilyZoeMaya
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
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. It scores 44/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.