Ella Mae as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ella Mae

What is the meaning of the name Ella Mae ?

The baby name Ella Mae is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced EL-uh MAY (IPA: /ˈɛlə meɪ/).

Ella Mae is English in Origin.

Ella Mae is a double given name in English combining Ella and Mae. Ella stems from the Old Germanic element alja (“other, foreign”) and functions as a medieval diminutive for a range of -ella names, including Eleanor, Isabella, and Gabriella; it flourished in the Victorian era and again in modern times. Mae is a variant of May, the month name derived from Maia, the Roman goddess of growth, and it also serves as a nickname for Mary or Margaret.

Together, Ella Mae reflects a Southern U.S. fondness for compound first names popular in the early 20th century, seen in records and in figures like singer Ella Mae Morse, and it has enjoyed a vintage revival. Variants include Ella-May, Ella-Mae, Ellamae, Ella May, and Ellie Mae. Short forms include Ella, Ellie, and Mae. The blended meaning is often read as “other/bright” plus “May/Maia,” evoking springtime freshness and classic charm.