Jella

The feminine first name Jella is regarded as a Frisian short form of the Old High German name Gertrud. Its etymological meaning encompasses 'the power of the spear' as well as 'the strong woman with spear', symbolically representing the sun and its energetic radiance.

What does the name Jella mean?

Jella is a Frisian short form of the Old High German name Gertrud. The meaning of the name is 'the power of the spear' and 'the strong woman with spear'. These terms symbolically describe the sun and its energetic radiance. The name consists of the Old High German components ger, meaning 'the spear', 'the throwing spear', or 'the trident', and trud, meaning 'strong', 'the power', 'the strength', or 'the force'. Additionally, Jella is also regarded as a North Frisian short form of Gabriela, which means 'the heroine of God', 'God has shown strength', or 'strength through God'. This origin traces back to the Old Hebrew elements géver (גֶּבֶר), meaning 'strong man' or 'hero', and 'el (אֵל), meaning 'God'. Sometimes, a connection to the Old High German gelt is seen, meaning 'the payment', 'the reward', or 'the sacrifice', and in this context, the meaning 'the offering' could be interpreted. Another variant of the name is Yella or Gela.

Where does the name Jella come from?

The name Jella has its roots in both Old Hebrew and Old High German and means 'the strong woman with spear' or 'the heroine of God'. In Old Hebrew, the word géver (גֶּבֶר) stands for 'strong man' or 'hero' and 'el (אֵל) means 'God'. In Old High German, the components consist of gelt, meaning 'the payment', 'the reward', or 'the sacrifice', and the elements ger for 'the spear', 'the throwing spear', or 'the trident' and trud for 'strong', 'the power', 'the strength', or 'the force'. The languages from which the name originates are Frisian and North Frisian.

How do you pronounce Jella?

The name Jella is usually pronounced in German as 'Jel-la' [ˈjɛla]. It has a two-syllable, gentle structure, beginning with an open E sound that conveys a certain directness. The open ending '-a' provides a bright resonance. Jella radiates friendliness and modernity and is a name that impresses with clear lines and a harmonious presence.

When is the name day of Jella?

The name days for Jella are January 6, March 17, and November 17.

Popularity

Jella is a highly sought-after first name in Germany. The name currently ranks 361st on the list of the most common female baby names. Jella achieved its best ranking in 2023 at position 325. Over the last ten years, the name has been given approximately 1,300 times, placing it 437th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 488th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ella / Elli / JeJe / Jel / Jell / Jelli / Jellibelli / Jelly / Jellybean / Jollo

Similar first names

Famous people

• Jella Braun-Fernwald (Austrian opera and concert singer)
• Jella Haase (German actress)
• Jella Lepman (Founder of the International Youth Library 1949)
• Jella Lepmann (Children's book author)
• Jella Rexhep (Albanian politician)
• Jella Teuchner (German politician)