Ella

Often used as a short form of longer names (meanings vary by source name).

Ella is a feminine given name that’s widely recognized in English-language contexts. It has been used both as a full standalone name and as a short form, which explains why you may meet Ellas whose families connect it to different longer names. From an etymology standpoint, Ella is best treated as a usage form rather than a single-root word with one fixed meaning. In many families it functions as a short form of names such as Eleanor or Elizabeth, and in some cases it also appears as a clipped form of other names ending in -ella. Because those source names have different histories and meanings, the most accurate approach is to treat Ella’s “meaning” as dependent on which longer tradition (if any) it’s standing in for. Pronunciation in English is typically EL-uh with two clear syllables. A practical tip is that it’s easy to spell and to say across many accents; if you’re in Spanish-speaking settings, note that the common word “ella” is pronounced differently, so context can help clarify that it’s being used as a given name.

Etymology: In English usage, Ella has long been used as a standalone name and as a short form for names like Eleanor or Elizabeth (and in some cases other -ella names). Because it can come from different full forms, its meaning is best understood as depending on the underlying name tradition.