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 2024, Ella was ranked #39 and Ellen #736 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 177 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Ella moved ahead of Ellen in Northern Ireland · Girls — #27 and #26 the year before became #26 and #37.
- Longest-running competitions
Ella and Ellen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 74 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #4 and #208.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #63 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #39 and #736.
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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 29 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, 2024: Ella #39, Ellen #736.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Ella | Ellen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A 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 |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Ellen
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls