Ella
EL-ə
A short, graceful name with several possible roots, often linked to beauty, friendship, or a diminutive of longer names.
Meaning
In the excerpt, Ella is glossed as “elf friend,” reflecting an old Germanic-style interpretation. In broader naming history, Ella is also used as a short form of names like Eleanor, Elizabeth, or Ellen, so its meaning can vary by family and language tradition. The Hebrew sense attached to related names in the excerpt belongs to Elizabeth/Eliza rather than Ella itself.
Origin
EnglishGermanicHebrewfeminine
Fun fact
Ella became especially popular in the English-speaking world as both an independent name and a nickname-style form.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names.