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The short answer
Elle is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Diminutive of Eleanor and other names beginning with El. Already growing in popularity due to Australian model Elle Macpherson (1964-), this name received a boost in the United States after the release of the 2001 movie Legally Blonde featuring the main character Elle Woods." It ranked #461 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, diminutive of Eleanor and other names beginning with El. Already growing in popularity due to Australian model Elle Macpherson (1964-), this name received a boost in the United States after the release of the 2001 movie Legally Blonde featuring the main character Elle Woods. The entry lists its usage as English (Modern).
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Elle ranked #461 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #461 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Elle in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elle mean?
Behind the Name does not give Elle a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: diminutive of Eleanor and other names beginning with El.
Is Elle a popular name?
Elle ranked #461 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Elle a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Elle appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Elle — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
