Namewise

Ella vs Ellen

Ella and Ellencompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #4 and Ellen #208 among girls in Norway.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #9 and Ellen #541 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #12 and Ellen #150 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Ellen #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #46 and Ellen #1028 among girls in England and Wales.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1996, Ella was ranked #50 and Ellen #73 among girls in New Zealand.

Ella and Ellen over time

Ella and Ellen appear together in 4 published lists, across 178 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ellen in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Ella in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1945–2025

    Ella held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Ellen in 50.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2019, Ellen #15 in 1955.

    The order changed in 2002: Ella moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #155 and #135; by 2002 that had become #125 and #156.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #4, Ellen #208.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025

    Ella held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Ellen in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Ellen #23 in 2002.

    The order changed in 2003: Ella moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #28 and #23; by 2003 that had become #14 and #25.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Ellen #166.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Ella held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ellen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Ellen #63 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #46, Ellen #1028.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Ella held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ellen in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2015, Ellen #21 in 2000.

    The order changed in 2005: Ella moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #27 and #26; by 2005 that had become #26 and #37.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #12, Ellen #150.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Ella

Pairs where Ella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Ellen

Pairs where Ellen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Ella, Ellen
FieldEllaEllen
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English.Not yet recorded
OriginGermanic, diminutive formNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɛl.ə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #4 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ella and Ellen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ella; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Ella

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1993–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #46 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Ellen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls