Finding a Strong and Pretty Girl’s Name Like Ella

Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.

WHEN YOUR FAVORITE NAME IS ALREADY TAKEN

Jessica writes:

Ever since I saw Cinderella – the one with Lily James – I knew I wanted to name my daughter Ella. My husband was on board, especially because our last name is long and German. (It’s Roth plus the letter N plus berg plus an R.)

Over the summer, my brother and sister-in-law had their baby, and named her Ella. Same last name, and we live nearby and we see each other all the time. Their son (Noah) and our son (Jack) are both three and little besties, so having the girls share the same name is out.

We have never talked about names, so I’m really not mad about it.

If we had a boy, our list was Theo, Leo, Henry, or Luke, all names we thought about for Jack.

But we just found out we’re having a girl. I’m thrilled, but I didn’t really have a list of other names to think about, and right now I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed.

Because our last name is long, I like simple names. It’s never bothered me having a popular name. I’d rather have a popular name than one that’s too different, I just don’t want there to be two Ellas in our family!

Her middle name will be Kathleen, after my mom, though we’re also considering Katherine.

Can you help me brainstorm some new names? I’m so stuck on Ella that my brain just can’t move past it!

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

FINDING A NAME LIKE ELLA

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter!

Isn’t it funny how our minds work? It sounds like you’re at peace with having a niece with an awesome name … but now you’re staring a blank sheet of paper and can’t imagine what happens next.

We’ve all been there, if not with names then with other decisions.

The good news is that we have lots of information about the kind of names that you like:

• Short names, with smooth sounds
• Relatively common/popular choices

And, of course, names that don’t overlap with Jack, Ella, and probably Noah, too. (My first thought, Stella, is obviously a non-starter!)

It turns out that the really limiting factor is probably popularity. Based on your comments about your surname, I’m assuming you wouldn’t be interested in Penelope or Valentina. If we’re looking at mostly Top 100 and maybe some a bit beyond? By definition, that’s a set list – limited even more if we can only consider names on the shorter side.

Still, I think it’s worth talking over, because there are still plenty of great options in the “name like Ella” category.

A SISTER FOR JACK

AVA

Brief and complete, Ava pairs well with your surname. It’s distinctly different from your son’s name and her cousins’ names, too, but it think it meets the broad definition of a name like Ella.

CLARA

I like the way Jack and Clara would share the same C sound in their names. It’s subtle, but appealing.

ISLA

Almost a perfect substitute for Ella, very close in sound but still a clearly separate name.

LUCY

There’s a high-spirited, old-fashioned appeal to Lucy that Jack shares, too. Plus you’re keeping the lovely L sound of Ella.

SOPHIE

I might’ve suggested Sophia, except Sophie has the same two-syllable simplicity that Ella offers.

TESSA

On paper, Tessa is less common. But I think it’s a perfect choice for a name like Ella. Straightforward sounds, a mix of casual and classic, immediately familiar.

VIOLET

I wonder if something like Violet could work? It sounds nothing like Ella, and visually it’s quite a bit longer. But it’s a popular choice, one that’s immediately recognizable. And it’s just fun, too, isn’t it?

ZARA

Speaking of fun, I think Zara is one of those perfect twists-on-traditional names that isn’t quite as popular as I’d expect. On the downside: you might find yourself explaining “it’s like Sarah with a Z, no H.” On the plus side? Everything else.

On balance, I think Lucy is the obvious choice – completely different, but with all of the same qualities as Ella.

But if you’d like something a little more distinct? Violet would be my choice.

And on balance, I like them both with Kathleen a tiny bit more than Katherine. Though either is great! Lucy Kathleen; Violet Kathleen.

Readers, over to you! Can you suggest a name like Ella for Jack’s new sister?