Ella vs Maria

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ella

Girl #30 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"all, completely"

Origin: Germanic Alia

Cultural Roots

English German Hebrew Scandinavian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#30
Total SSA Count
5,685
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
El, Ellie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Ella →

Maria

Girl #74 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"drop of the sea, star of the sea"

Origin: Latin

Cultural Roots

Spanish Italian Portuguese German Polish Latin American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#74
Total SSA Count
3,105
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Mari, Ria, Mia

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Maria →

Popularity Comparison

Ella Rank #30
Maria Rank #74

Ella is more popular, ranked #30 vs #74 for Maria.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Ella ___

  • Ella Grace
  • Ella Rose
  • Ella Mae
  • Ella Jane
  • Ella Claire
  • Ella Louise

Maria ___

  • Maria Elena
  • Maria Theresa
  • Maria Lucia
  • Maria Isabelle
  • Maria Christina
  • Maria Celeste

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Ella

Owen Liam Sophia Nora Oliver

If you choose Maria

Elena Lucia Isabella Carlos Diego

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ella or Maria more popular?

Ella is more popular, ranked #30 compared to Maria at #74 in the United States.

What do Ella and Maria mean?

Ella means "all, completely" (Germanic Alia origin). Maria means "drop of the sea, star of the sea" (Latin origin).

Are Ella and Maria boy or girl names?

Ella is primarily a girl name. Maria is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Ella ← Full profile: Maria Browse all baby names