These two names are on our shortlist for our spring baby and popularity is really the only thing working against them.
But how popular is too popular? For example, I feel Olivia has lost its shine completely because every other little girl where we live (Canada) seems to be named Olivia. Do you think it’s the same for Ella and Charlotte?
They are both in the Top 10 when I look up baby girl name lists, however, in real life I only know one Ella and no Charlottes. So this has me wondering if they are really THAT common.
Which one do you feel is more popular or overdone? How many Ellas and Charlottes do you know in real life?
I think Charlotte stands out more since it has a vintage/timeless feel while Ella would blend in more with all the Ellies/Lilys and just feels more on-trend right now!
IRL, I know one Ella and three Ellies (I know of a bunch more though) and one Charlotte.
I think something about Ella’s sound makes it feel a bit less tired to me? It’s more versatile, whereas Charlotte has a more distinct sound with that “Sh” sound at the start and the -otte ending, so once you start hearing it a lot you start to really, really notice that it’s everywhere! But really, if you’re looking for something that isn’t very popular and isn’t going to lose its shine I think these are both risky choices unfortunately! Not sure if you’re looking for ideas, but maybe Ella could be a nickname for a more unique name (e.g. Eliza, Elodie, Elina, Elora, Elise)? Other names similar to Ella could be Elsie, Ada, Lola, Orla, Thalia, Tessa, Anna, Molly, and similar to Charlotte: Colette, Celeste, Juliette, Lottie, Margot
So I live in the USA (Midwest/East Coast) and I know people with daughters that have both of these names. However, [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is EVERRRYYYWHERE and I know at least 5 born in the last 3 years by people in both areas of the USA.
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I know maybe 1-3 Ellas so it is less common in my circles but definitely still present. This is reflected in that [name_f]Ella[/name_f] was in the 30s popularity wise in 2023 and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] was #3[name_f][/name_f].
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I don’t know how reflected that is in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] but that’s my 2 cents.
[name_f]Ella[/name_f] feels more popular but also more flexible because of its variants. [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is classic but feels trendy like [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. The problem is that you could name your baby one of these names and start meeting other babies with the same name immediately after, or you might go years until you meet another one (when I say meet I mean actually meet, not see on social media because every name seems popular on social media lol). So it’s really hard to predict! [name_m]Just[/name_m] go with what you love. If the popularity wears the shine off both names then maybe your heart is set on something truly more unusual. In which case I would look way outside the top 10 list, maybe even top 100 or more. Good luck!
While I’ve met more Charlottes than Ellas (recently), I feel[name_f][/name_f] like I’ve known more Ellas due to the plethora of similar sounding names [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Emilia[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f], [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], [name_f]Elise[/name_f], [name_f]Bella[/name_f] and all the -bella names, [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], Elliott… whereas [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] still sounds more [name_f][/name_f]- I don’t know [name_f][/name_f]- distinctive? Charles/Charlie are popular, as is [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], but the former have a different start sound and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] feels quite separate? Plus, with [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], I’ve found some use exclusively their full name, whereas others use mostly their nicknames (Lottie, [name_f]Char[/name_f], [name_f]Charley[/name_f], Chaz) so maybe again, that makes it feel a little less popular?
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It’s a tough question [name_f][/name_f]- and I think it comes down to how you[name_f][/name_f] feel. While I wouldn’t be blown away by meeting a [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] or an [name_f]Ella[/name_f], I still think they have their merits if that makes sense? That shine a name has is going to be a personal thing [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Florence[/name_f] is very popular where I am but I still think it shines, whereas the similarly ranked [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] doesn’t for me
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If you go with them, I do think you just have to be aware that they are popular [name_f][/name_f]- and I guess embrace that? They’re popular for a reason after all?
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I’ll also add [name_f][/name_f]- this is based on my UK perspective! So it might be different where you are!
It’s a very close competition. I know 5 Charlottes and 3 Ellas. As someone else mentioned, there are a lot of [name_f]El[/name_f]- names now, which can make [name_f]Ella[/name_f] feel more lost in a sea of similar sounds. [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] has [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] to compete with, too, though, plus Charlies.
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[name_f]Ella[/name_f] has my heart, though. I love it no matter how popular it is.
Apparently [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is more common; it’s #1[name_f][/name_f] in my state! [name_f][/name_f] (I had forgotten this fact, I’ve come across a [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] or two in passing but don’t know any personally.) [name_f][/name_f] I do know of one teenager named [name_f]Ella[/name_f], but she lives several states away so both names to me feel usable. [name_f][/name_f] I know both are popular but since I’ve loved both for years and don’t really interact with any on a regular basis, both still feel infinitely usable to me. [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] also has in its favor the option for so many nicknames! [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Cici[/name_f], [name_f]Carly[/name_f], [name_m]Charlie[/name_m], [name_m]Ari[/name_m], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], [name_f]Lottie[/name_f], etc.! [name_f][/name_f] I wouldn’t say either is too popular to use, but I don’t find [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] too popular to use too [name_f][/name_f]- just personal taste I suppose. [name_f][/name_f] I think both options are beautiful!
I work with kids, and in my area (Northeast US) both are extremely popular, but the Ellas are a bit older (probably 10+ now) and it’s far more common to see Charlottes, especially 5 and under.
So, personally speaking, don’t let this totally dissuade you from using [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] if you love it- but to me [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] has lost its shine more than [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] and [name_f]Ella[/name_f] combined. I love in the south central US. I know so many little Charlottes and Charlis, and feel like it is every.where. Though, I think my feelings toward the name are influenced by a particular family I know who used [name_f]Charli[/name_f] for their little girl. I think maybe I just have a tainted association from them. I adore [name_m]Charlie[/name_m] for a boy, though.
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I know that [name_f]Ella[/name_f] had a big popularity spree, but it does not feel tired to me the way [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] does. I’ve had [name_f]Della[/name_f] on my list for a long time and would use it and popularity [name_f][/name_f] matters a fair bit to me, so [name_f]Ella[/name_f] must not feel too tired for me to want to use [name_f]Della[/name_f]. And that’s also considering that I know several girls with names like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] who go by [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], Elouise/ [name_f]El[/name_f], etc. [name_m]Even[/name_m] counting other [name_f]El[/name_f]- names that are also fairly popular, [name_f]Ella[/name_f] feels more fresh to me.
