Ella? Grateful for any help...

[name]Hi[/name] name-gurus, I have lurked on this site for a long time and admire your taste in names.

My husband and I are having a little girl in less than two weeks. We are having trouble finalizing her name and I would be grateful for your help. There is really only one name we have in common: [name]Ella[/name]. It is a grandmother name on both sides. I think it is much too common, but I think it is going to end up being her name anyway. Other names I like include [name]Willa[/name], [name]Ada[/name], [name]Aubrey[/name]. Other names my husband likes include [name]Autumn[/name], [name]Solene[/name] and [name]Aislin[/name] (none of which are my taste).

If we go with [name]Ella[/name], I want her middle name to assist in the event there are too many Ellas and she wants to use her middle name. My other concern is [name]Ella[/name] is so feminine, I would like a less girly option as the middle name. Initially I was thinking a J name so she could gave EJ as a nickname if necessary. Is that insane of me? I would like the name to be sophisticated, interesting, or literary without being too trendy or strange. I have few ideas that I’m not happy with but have thought about:

[name]Marlowe[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name]
[name]James[/name]
[name]Jaye[/name]
[name]Juliana[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]

Last name is one syllable and there is a second middle name (my maiden name) that is one syllable but not nice enough to be the only middle name in my opinion.

Question 1: is [name]Ella[/name] just far too popular?
Question 2: ideas for a middle name?

I am grateful for any imput. Thank you!!!

Question 2:

We are due in about 3 weeks with a baby girl and are also considering [name]Ella[/name], but I too feel like it’s way too popular…so I’m trying to steer my husband away from it if possible.

But, if you think you will likely go with it, and are looking for a J middle name, what about [name]Ella[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]?

[name]Ella[/name] is a pretty name. I know what you mean by being common but it’s so cute.

There is always [name]Elle[/name] as a possibility or [name]Ellery[/name] or even [name]Elise[/name] which you can pronunce [name]Ell[/name]- Lease if you spell it like this :[name]Ellise[/name].

Some middle name suggestions since [name]Ella[/name] is very girly are:

[name]Ella[/name] [name]Laine[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Reese[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Maureen[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Serene[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Sabine[/name]

I also like the name [name]Ada[/name], it’s very unique.

I think [name]Ella[/name] [name]Josephine[/name] is lovely!
[name]Ella[/name] is popular, but still a great name. We steered clear of all “[name]El[/name]–” girl names, only because we are surrounded by [name]Ellie[/name]'s, [name]Elle[/name]'s, [name]Ella[/name]'s, [name]Bella[/name]'s and [name]Eleanor[/name]'s in our family and circle of friends. All of these variations of [name]Ella[/name] are quite popular right now.

Are there a lot of Ellas in your area? Sometimes the name’s overall popularity is less meaningful if the name is more popular in certain states or in rural or urban areas. And [name]Ella[/name] is a ver pretty name.

I don’t think it’s weird at all to choose a middle name with EJ in mind as a nickname. [name]Ella[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] is beautiful! I also like pp’s suggestion of [name]Ella[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]. [name]Ella[/name] [name]Jane[/name] is nice too, if a bit stolid. I would avoid two -a names, like [name]Ella[/name] [name]Julia[/name]. Good luck!

Thank you for all the feedback! This is very helpful!

I really like [name]Ella[/name]. It is a popular name and feminine, but that wouldn’t stop me from using if it were the right one. I think she could always drop the “a” and go by [name]Elle[/name] if she felt the name were too girly. I like [name]Ella[/name] [name]June[/name] for a middle name. Good luck. I’m working on my husband right now and it isn’t easy.

I like the name [name]Ella[/name] - my daughter’s name is [name]Eliana[/name] (nn [name]Ellie[/name]) :slight_smile:

If you wanted to have a longer 1st name, nn [name]Ella[/name] other ideas could include
[name]Isabella[/name]
[name]Gabriella[/name]
[name]Antonella[/name]
[name]Briella[/name]
[name]Estella[/name]

I also liked another poster’s suggestion [name]Ella[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]

I have only ever met 2 girls named [name]Ella[/name], the 1st is 24 y.o. with a whole lot of charisma and a mane of blonde hair and the other a 7 y.o. who was super sweet. So, I hear it is popular but I think I have heard of more Elinors than Ellas.

I like [name]Ella[/name] it is a pretty, feminine name that is very today.

I think [name]Ella[/name] [name]Jacqueline[/name] would be fantastic because [name]Jacqueline[/name] is such a gorgeous name, so sophisticated and classy. If she didn’t like [name]Ella[/name] then [name]Jacqueline[/name] is a superb option.

I wouldn’t look around for another name when you have spent all this time and nothing else gels for you and your DH.

best wishes please post in nameberry birth announcements when she is born and if you do want more suggestions we are willing to oblige!

rollo

[name]Ella[/name] is a very pretty name but I do agree that it has gotten very very popular which tends to take some of the wow-factor away from it, unfortunately :frowning: but as the name is one you both have in common in your families it may be nice to keep it.

some variations you may want to consider include:

[name]Elladine[/name]
[name]Elletta[/name]
[name]Elaina[/name] (love this)
[name]Ellina[/name]
[name]Ella[/name]-[name]Mae[/name]
[name]Eloise[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]

As for middle names here are some ideas:

[name]Jacqueline[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Joanne[/name]
[name]Juliette[/name] (love this)

Good luck choosing a name to your liking and let us know what you go for!

Before I scrolled to read the responses I was going to post [name]Ella[/name] [name]Josephine[/name] too! [name]Ella[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] sounds really nice as well, though it is a bit feminine which you’d said you weren’t sure about; however, I still think its lovely. What about…

[name]Ella[/name] [name]Joanna[/name]/[name]Johannah[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Juno[/name] (this one seems quite spunky to me!)
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Justine[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Juliana[/name]

I also kind of like [name]Ella[/name] [name]Joy[/name], though its shorter than my usual name choices, maybe that will work for you.

As far as EJ for a nn, I think that’s great, and not at all insane!

I love [name]Ella[/name] [name]Josephine[/name] and [name]Ella[/name] [name]Jacqueline[/name] (my own name!) for J middle names! I initially thought [name]Ella[/name] was too popular as the answer to your first question. This is the general idea that nameberry has always projected to me. But actually I don’t know an [name]Ella[/name], so it may just be trendy in certain areas of the U.S. Since it has special meaning to you, you have even more reason to use it because it is a lovely name.

Thank you ladies! I appreciate you taking the time to reply and share your insights. I will keep you posted.

As always great advice from everyone, but I’m going to chime in with a little more and a few extra thoughts.

I sense you trying to build alternatives into your daughter’s name – a middle name she can switch to if [name]Ella[/name]'s too common, the possibility of calling her EJ. But I guess that it would be you and not your daughter who’d want to change her name – she’ll be very used to [name]Ella[/name] by the time she’d figure this out herself, and most kids like having popular names. And as an alternative, I think you could do a lot better than EJ.

Since you and your husband agree on [name]Ella[/name] and you both have it in your families, that’s a strong argument for using the name – and it is pretty, if popular and getting more so. But as several people have pointed out, why not look for a longer name that can get you to [name]Ella[/name] as a short form? There are so many options of different kinds that lead you to [name]Ella[/name]…which is really why the name is so popular.

Many of these have been suggested already, but you have names in lots of different styles that begin with the [name]El[/name] sound:

[name]Ellery[/name]
[name]Elliot[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Eleonora[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Eliana[/name]
[name]Elena[/name]
[name]Eloise[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]

You can search on nameberry for names that begin with the first two letters, i.e. [name]EL[/name], not just the first letter.

You can also use [name]Ella[/name] as a nickname for names that end in -ella (and you can search that way too), such as [name]Gabriella[/name], [name]Adella[/name], [name]Graziella[/name]…

If you want an alternative to just plain [name]Ella[/name], I think any of these would work. And I love [name]Ella[/name] [name]Josephine[/name] and [name]Ella[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] too! (though EJ, not so much)

[name]Ella[/name] [name]Jessamine[/name]? Some other J middles you may like:

[name]Ella[/name] [name]Josie[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Jolie[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Janae[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Jacinta[/name]/[name]Jacinda[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Julienne[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]January[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Jessenia[/name]

From your list, my favourite by far is [name]Ella[/name] [name]Juliet[/name]. [name]Ella[/name] [name]James[/name] and [name]Ella[/name] [name]Jaye[/name] seem to masculine to me ([name]Jaye[/name] also seems a little trendy). [name]Juliana[/name] is gorgeous but I prefer [name]Juliet[/name] because of the repeating “a” endings in [name]Ella[/name] [name]Juliana[/name]. I adore [name]Imogen[/name] but [name]Ella[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] seems to run into each other. And [name]Marlowe[/name]'s a cool middle but I prefer a 3 or 4 syllable middle with the 2 syllable [name]Ella[/name] personally.

My honest opinion is that yes, [name]Ella[/name] is very popular. But what would bother me more would be the amount of other “[name]El[/name]” names around - [name]Elle[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Eloise[/name], [name]Eloisa[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name] etc. And then there are the [name]Bella[/name]'s, [name]Stella[/name]'s, [name]Isabella[/name], [name]Gabriella[/name]'s etc.

Maybe you could use a longer name with [name]Ella[/name] as a nn? Some of my favourites are [name]Eloisa[/name], [name]Elodie[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Elspeth[/name], [name]Elena[/name] and [name]Eleonora[/name].

Of your other potential choices, I really like [name]Willa[/name] from your list and [name]Autumn[/name] from his. Maybe you’d consider [name]Willow[/name]? It has the same sound as [name]Willa[/name] but the same nature feel as [name]Autumn[/name]?

Here are some other suggestions for each of your choices, maybe you’ll both like one?:

[name]Willa[/name] - [name]Willow[/name], [name]Wren[/name], [name]Milla[/name], [name]Lilla[/name], [name]Milana[/name], [name]Ilana[/name], [name]Lillian[/name], [name]Millicent[/name], [name]Camilla[/name], [name]Romilly[/name] and [name]Jillian[/name]
[name]Ada[/name] - [name]Ava[/name], [name]Anna[/name], [name]Anya[/name], [name]Ayla[/name], [name]Asia[/name], [name]Alva[/name], [name]Adria[/name], [name]Adella[/name], [name]Alta[/name], [name]Adriana[/name], [name]Ama[/name], [name]Ailsa[/name], [name]Alaina[/name], [name]Alma[/name], [name]Alba[/name], [name]Annika[/name], [name]Jada[/name] and [name]Giada[/name].
[name]Aubrey[/name] - [name]Audrey[/name], [name]Audra[/name], [name]Claudie[/name], [name]Claudia[/name], [name]Aurora[/name], [name]Aurelia[/name], [name]Paulina[/name], [name]Laurel[/name], [name]August[/name], [name]Aurelie[/name], [name]Augusta[/name], [name]Brianna[/name], [name]Bryony[/name] and [name]Bridget[/name].
[name]Autumn[/name] - [name]Summer[/name], [name]Winter[/name], [name]Anwen[/name], [name]Arwen[/name], [name]Arden[/name], [name]Avalon[/name], [name]Aspen[/name], [name]Brooke[/name], [name]Ivy[/name], [name]Hazel[/name], [name]May[/name], [name]Olive[/name], [name]Rowan[/name], [name]Meadow[/name], [name]River[/name] and [name]Laurel[/name].
[name]Solene[/name] - [name]Selene[/name] (I love this name!), [name]Selena[/name], [name]Celine[/name], [name]Celina[/name], [name]Solana[/name], Isola, [name]Soleil[/name], [name]Helene[/name], [name]Madeleine[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name], [name]Evangeline[/name], [name]Coraline[/name], [name]Rosaline[/name], [name]Isaline[/name], [name]Evaline[/name], [name]Adeline[/name] and [name]Angeline[/name].
[name]Aislin[/name] - Naimh, Caiomh, [name]Nola[/name], [name]Eilidh[/name], [name]Orla[/name], [name]Maeve[/name], [name]Nuala[/name], [name]Tierney[/name], [name]Bridie[/name], [name]Oona[/name], [name]Delaney[/name], [name]Bellamy[/name], [name]Talullah[/name], [name]Malin[/name], [name]Marlin[/name], [name]Elin[/name], [name]Evelyn[/name], [name]Rosalyn[/name], [name]Ashlyn[/name] and [name]Gwendolyn[/name].

Hopefully that helps a little!

Wow! I am so grateful that you have taken the time to post such detailed responses. I sm considering all of your comments and ideas, and will share them with my husband. Thank you!!

[name]Pam[/name] makes a great point, and I have always loved [name]Eloise[/name]. It’s a great way to get your [name]Ella[/name] and she can go by both, or whichever one she prefers. I still like [name]Ella[/name] [name]Josephine[/name] though. I’m very attached to the name [name]Josephine[/name] at the moment.

[name]Ella[/name] is a beautiful name, but I see very well how popularity is an issue for you…
EJ and other initial nicknames are no favourite of mine, but here are some J names for you anyway:
[name]Jacoba[/name] (or [name]Jacobine[/name], but I like that one less…)
[name]Jessamine[/name]/[name]Jessamy[/name]
[name]Josepha[/name]
[name]Julissa[/name]
[name]Julitta[/name]
[name]Junia[/name]
[name]Jacaranda[/name]

[name]Ella[/name] [name]Jacoba[/name] has a lot of spunk [name]IMO[/name] :slight_smile: [name]Ella[/name] [name]Julissa[/name] is also lovely…

Other names beginning with [name]El[/name] you may not have considered:
[name]Elvira[/name]
Elowen
[name]Elettra[/name]
[name]Elida[/name]/[name]Elidia[/name]
[name]Eluned[/name]
[name]Elysia[/name]
[name]Elisa[/name]

Names ending in [name]Elle[/name]/[name]Ella[/name]:
[name]Emanuelle[/name]/[name]Emanuella[/name]
[name]Arella[/name]
[name]Capella[/name]
[name]Luella[/name]
[name]Marcella[/name]
Mazelle
Aella

Alternatives for the names one of you likes but not the other:
[name]Willa[/name] - [name]Wilhelmina[/name]/[name]Willamina[/name], Millaray, [name]Phillida[/name], [name]Priscilla[/name], [name]Sevilla[/name], [name]Vivia[/name], [name]Vera[/name], [name]Lilia[/name], Everilda, Ilithyia, [name]Romilda[/name], [name]Silvia[/name], [name]Silva[/name], [name]Tilda[/name]
[name]Ada[/name] - [name]Ava[/name], Aelis, [name]Aenea[/name], Aeon, Alodia, [name]Aviva[/name], [name]Alida[/name], [name]Aziza[/name], Taddea, [name]Dacia[/name], [name]Dido[/name], [name]Edana[/name], [name]Edith[/name], Edm”e, [name]Ida[/name], Idumea, Olida, [name]Ondine[/name], [name]Theda[/name], [name]Imelda[/name], Inanda, [name]Ananda[/name], Rosenda, [name]Clodagh[/name]
[name]Aubrey[/name] - [name]Audrey[/name], [name]Audun[/name], Audovera, [name]Claudine[/name], [name]Brigid[/name], [name]Brisa[/name]/Briseis, [name]Bryony[/name], [name]Beryl[/name], [name]Beatriz[/name]/[name]Beatrice[/name], Beatriu, [name]Cambria[/name], [name]MABRY[/name]! ([name]Mayberry[/name]), [name]Isaura[/name]
[name]Autumn[/name] - [name]Maud[/name], [name]Almond[/name], [name]Amity[/name], Amnesty, Chrysanthemum, [name]Columba[/name], Errresuma, Eumelia, Ifeoma, [name]Lumina[/name], [name]Pomona[/name], [name]Rumer[/name], [name]Bluma[/name], [name]Fortuna[/name], Mneme, Euthymia, [name]Anwen[/name], [name]Anona[/name], [name]Antona[/name], [name]Antonia[/name]
[name]Solene[/name] - [name]Solenne[/name], Solace, [name]Soleil[/name], Solstice, S”gol”ne, [name]Isolde[/name],[name]Selene[/name]/[name]Selena[/name], [name]Serene[/name], [name]Irene[/name], [name]Ismene[/name], [name]Seraphine[/name], [name]Undine[/name], [name]Zephyrine[/name], [name]Amandine[/name], [name]Apolline[/name], [name]Augustine[/name], [name]Coline[/name]/[name]Colleen[/name], [name]Cymbaline[/name], Eponine, [name]Ernestine[/name], [name]Francine[/name], [name]Jessamine[/name], [name]Justine[/name], [name]Leoline[/name], [name]Leontine[/name], [name]Maxine[/name], Mazarine, Myrrine, Ombeline, Photine
[name]Aislin[/name] - Aelis, [name]Ailsa[/name], [name]Ala[/name]”s, [name]Ana[/name]”s, [name]Anoush[/name], [name]Shoshana[/name], [name]Ishana[/name], [name]Ishbel[/name], [name]Morning[/name], [name]Spring[/name], [name]Starling[/name], [name]Evening[/name], Blessing, Darling, [name]Rosalind[/name], Wendelin, [name]Chaplin[/name], [name]Aloisa[/name], [name]Aravis[/name], Asora, [name]Aziza[/name]

Goodness that took time, but it was much fun!!

Let us know what you think, and the progress you and your guy is making… If we know your thought process it’s easier to make fitting suggestions… :slight_smile:
Best of luck!

[name]Ella[/name] is pretty popular but I really don’t feel it’s too popular at least not in the US, and the best part is it somehow avoids feeling trendy.

I think the EJ nickname is a cute idea but remember [name]Ella[/name] does have the less frilly nicknames [name]Elle[/name] and [name]Ellie[/name]

As for J middle names Id have to agree with the suggestion of [name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name] is very lovely but from the ones you listed I actually like [name]James[/name] or [name]Jaye[/name] best they have a nice sharp sound and I like the way the balance each other. But I do worry if theyre two short how many syllables is your surname?

I think [name]Elle[/name] sounds better with a name ending in a constenant sound like Juilet than with ones ending in a vowel like [name]Juliana[/name] and Harlowe

You could also go for the initials [name]EB[/name] it may not age as well as EJ but I think its endearing and it can be a literary reference to E.B. White… [name]Ella[/name] [name]Bryony[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Briley[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Blythe[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Bram[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Bronte[/name]…

Other ideas
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Charlotte[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Charlene[/name], [name]Elle[/name] [name]Charmaine[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Clarice[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Fable[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Laine[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Liesl[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Rosalind[/name], [name]Elle[/name] [name]Rosamund[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Rosalie[/name], [name]Ella[/name] [name]Rowan[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Saffron[/name]
[name]Ella[/name] [name]Zooey[/name]

Maybe it depends where in the US you live. It was #5 in my state last year, I hear [name]Ella[/name] all the time. Along with [name]Elle[/name] and [name]Ellie[/name], lol. I do like [name]Ella[/name] [name]Juniper[/name] a lot! NN [name]June[/name] :slight_smile: