The Age of Ellie

Eleanor and Elizabeth share something in common. They're both classics, but there's another thing that makes the two names similar to each other. They have the same "El" beginning, meaning they can shorten to "Ellie". Eleanor and Elizabeth are no longer the only popular names that can shorten to "Ellie", though. 

Within the past ten years, "el" names replaced the "al" names that dominated the turn of the twenty-first century. This being said, Eleanor, Eliana, and Elena replaced Alexandra, Alexis, and Alexa. Perhaps Ellie itself is in the top 100. I wouldn't be surprised if "Il" names like Ilyria, Ily, and Ilona are next to become popular. However, few "Il" names currently rank in the top 1000. 

Formal names for Ellie aren't just limited to names beginning with "El", though. Names ending in "ella" or "elle", like Isabella, Gabriella, and Brielle; can also shorten to Ellie. However, it feels more like a stretch. 

Names ending in "el" are not done rising. Here are some "el" names that might hit the top 100 within the next decade:

Elaina

Elaina is both a phonetic re-spelling of Elena and a Latinization of Elaine. 


Elianna

Elianna is a re-spelling of Eliana featuring an extra "n". Literally, Elianna is to Eliana as Arianna is to Ariana. 

Eliza

A classic short form of Elizabeth with recents connections to the famous musical Hamilton, Eliza is almost back in the top 100 after a long hiatus. 

Elliana

Like Elianna, Elliana is a re-spelling of Eliana. This time, it has an extra "l".  

Eloise

Eloise is a sweet vintage charmer with literary associations via Kay Thompson's famous six-year-old city girl. 

Elsie

Even though it's a nickname-name, it feels more complete than Ellie. Like Eliza, it is heading back to the top 100 after a long rest. 

Of course, not all girls' names starting with "el" have to be popular. Here are some "el" names in the top 1000 that show no sign of hitting the top 100 anytime soon:

Elaine

This classic French form of Helen ranked every year since the late 1880s. It was popular from the 1920s through the 1950s. After hitting an all-time low in 2010, Elaine is on the rise again. 

Elina

It looks like a re-spelling of Elena, except that it would be pronounced "el-EE-na", not "el-AY-na". 

Elisa

Parents who love Lisa but want something fresher should turn to this modern classic instead. 

Elisabeth

This re-spelling of Elizabeth is just as classic and nickname-rich.

Elise

Elise is the French short form of Elizabeth that feels timeless, complete, and quite cute on its own. 

Elle

Elle is literally Ellie without the "ee" ending. It also looks like a French form of Ella. Perhaps it means "she" in French. Since its rise in the 2000s, Elle has slowed down. 

Ellen

Classic and ordinary, Ellen is surprisingly rare these days. Parents who find Alice and Emma too popular can consider Ellen instead.

Ellianna

This re-spelling of Eliana has both an extra "l" and an extra "n". 

Elliot

Though currently more popular for boys, Elliot is also in use for girls. 

Elliott 

Elliot gets an extra "t" in this re-spelling. 

Ellis

Ellis is another unisex name that feels feminine thanks to its similarity to Alice and Ellie. 

Ellison

Take new classic Allison, replace the "a" with an "e", and you get Ellison.

Elodie

French Elodie rhymes with up-and-coming Melody and makes a similar-sounding alternative to Eloise. 

Elora

Parents who are torn between Aurora and Elena should consider Elora, which fits in with both "el" and "ora" names. 

Elsa

For years, anyone who heard this name would belt out "Let it Go". However, Elsa doesn't sing that song in Frozen II. This short form of Elizabeth deserves a second look. 

Elyse

Elyse is a re-spelling of classic Elise, mentioned above. 

What are your favorite names starting with "el"?

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