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Ornella as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ornella

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The baby name Ornella is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced Italian: /orˈnɛlla/; English approximation: or-NEL-uh.

Ornella is Italian in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Italian
Pronunciation: Italian: /orˈnɛlla/; English approximation: or-NEL-uh

What is the meaning of the name Ornella ?

The baby name Ornella is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced Italian: /orˈnɛlla/; English approximation: or-NEL-uh.

Ornella is Italian in Origin.

Ornella is an Italian feminine name coined in 1904 by poet‑playwright Gabriele d’Annunzio for his drama La figlia di Iorio. It derives from Italian ornello “flowering ash” (also called manna ash), from Latin ornus. The meaning points to the ash tree’s delicate spring blossoms and hardy character, while the -ella suffix gives a gentle, affectionate tone typical of Italian diminutives. The name soon moved from the stage into everyday use in Italy.

Variants and related forms include Ornela (common in Albania and the western Balkans), Ornelle (French), Ornelia (rare), and the masculine Ornello; nicknames such as Nella, Ella, or Orni appear. Usage grew in the early–mid 20th century in Italy, later boosted by film and the popularity of actress Ornella Muti, and spread modestly to France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italian diaspora communities. Today Ornella is familiar yet uncommon abroad, valued for its literary pedigree and botanical grace.

Ornella has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Ornella

Ornella Muti Actor · Born 1955 · Italy Ornella Muti is an Italian actress best known for her role as Princess Aura in the 1980 film Flash Gordon. She has also starred in films like The Last Woman and The Girl from Trieste, showcasing her versatility and talent in the film industry.

Ornella – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
BI 0 #11 2 425
BF Girls 0 #17 1 315
BI Girls 0 #18 16 726
CM 0 #46 10 2,592
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
CY 0 #59 2 1,632
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
SI 0 #79 2 1,612
JM 0 #93 1 3,714
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
QA 0 #106 1 7,011
IT Girls 0 #114 23,823 9,415
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
Switzerland Girls 2024 #134 2 1,786
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
CM Girls 0 #136 839 11,671
MU 0 #136 2 3,613
PA 0 #137 2 3,797
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
AR 0 #176 11 2,915
SI Girls 0 #177 1 2,769
UY 0 #178 5 2,477
HR 0 #180 2 2,081
LU Girls 0 #182 9 4,850
Belgium Girls 2013 #183 22 402
AE 0 #185 3 10,220
AO Girls 0 #212 6 4,575
PS 0 #224 3 5,692
AL Girls 0 #225 3 4,141
HU Girls 0 #225 1 3,308
BG Girls 0 #230 2 3,559
IT 0 #236 1,097 4,183
NA Girls 0 #237 1 7,146
JM Girls 0 #241 19 7,507
GR Girls 0 #243 7 6,293
EC Girls 0 #257 2 3,650
Canada Girls 2020 #278 6 2,919
IL 0 #280 3 6,291
MU Girls 0 #281 71 8,539
HR Girls 0 #287 8 3,687
PE 0 #322 8 6,350
DK Girls 0 #328 2 7,429
France Girls 2021 #331 75 3,185
KZ Girls 0 #331 2 5,862
QA Girls 0 #337 7 15,378
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
CZ Girls 0 #348 4 5,378
CN Girls 0 #356 4 8,829
BR 0 #358 3 5,969
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
CL 0 #377 35 6,867
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
AR Girls 0 #434 174 8,289
Spain 0 #434 19 2,326
MX 0 #444 2 8,339
UY Girls 0 #451 60 6,731
PT Girls 0 #466 6 7,952
CO 0 #469 12 7,768
RU Girls 0 #473 26 11,913
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
KW Girls 0 #497 19 19,177
PS Girls 0 #508 16 10,981
PA Girls 0 #514 5 9,861
CM Boys 0 #516 35 12,054
IQ Girls 0 #522 4 11,303
IR Girls 0 #538 8 8,334
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
IL Girls 0 #596 22 11,648
AE Girls 0 #597 1 20,968
CL Girls 0 #602 257 14,098
LB 0 #624 35 13,263
BO Girls 0 #649 3 9,488
HK Girls 0 #649 2 16,104
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
CL Boys 0 #699 2 13,390
QA Boys 0 #743 1 18,093
SY 0 #765 3 11,684
Germany Girls 0 #776 63 4,949
KW Boys 0 #803 4 18,755
NG Girls 0 #824 3 15,093
TN 0 #861 5 13,765
PE Girls 0 #875 69 14,861
Spain Girls 0 #908 76 5,561
United States Girls 2024 #910 7 8,487
OM Boys 0 #916 3 17,948
BR Girls 0 #926 16 12,708
NL Girls 0 #930 26 5,933
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
EG Girls 0 #1,002 8 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,011 4 25,931
CO Girls 0 #1,014 65 16,140
MY Girls 0 #1,068 5 24,821
MA 0 #1,109 20 20,986
ZA Girls 0 #1,109 33 25,928
DZ 0 #1,226 9 20,130
TR 0 #1,251 4 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,260 8 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,370 102 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,690 2 28,008

Ornella is popular in 67 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Switzerland
Wallonia, Belgium
United States
Belgium

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People also ask about Ornella

Ornella is predominantly a girl's name.
Ornella is a 3 syllable name, pronounced Italian: /orˈnɛlla/; English approximation: or-NEL-uh.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Ornello (masculine), Ornelia and Nella.
Yes — Ornella ranked #134 in Switzerland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Ornella ranks highest in Switzerland (#134 in 2024).
Ornella's popularity is declining significantly. It moved from #265 in 2011 to #331 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 1 notable people named Ornella are in our database, including Ornella Muti (Actor).