Ella vs Penelope

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 →

Penelope

Girl #28 Most Popular 4 Syllables

Meaning

"weaver, one who weaves"

Origin: Greek penelops

Cultural Roots

Greek English Spanish Italian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#28
Total SSA Count
5,741
Syllables
4
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Penny, Nell, Nellie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Penelope →

Popularity Comparison

Ella Rank #30
Penelope Rank #28

Penelope is more popular, ranked #28 vs #30 for Ella.

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

Penelope ___

  • Penelope Rose
  • Penelope Jane
  • Penelope Claire
  • Penelope Grace
  • Penelope Anne
  • Penelope Joy

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Ella

Owen Liam Sophia Nora Oliver

If you choose Penelope

Theodore Athena Jasper Phoebe Sebastien

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 Penelope more popular?

Penelope is more popular, ranked #28 compared to Ella at #30 in the United States.

What do Ella and Penelope mean?

Ella means "all, completely" (Germanic Alia origin). Penelope means "weaver, one who weaves" (Greek penelops origin).

Are Ella and Penelope boy or girl names?

Ella is primarily a girl name. Penelope is primarily a girl name.

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