Louella

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A feminine first name, a variant of Louise or Lou, used mainly in the United States
2. A female personal name derived from Louise and popular in English-speaking countries during the early twentieth century
3. Given name for a woman, formed as a variant of Louise and often shortened to Lou in everyday use

Etymology: Louella is a given name built from two pieces. The first is "Lou," a short form of Louise, the French-derived female name that came into English through the Latin "Lodovicus" and the Germanic name "Hludwig." The second is the diminutive suffix "-ella," the same ending found in names like Stella and Marcella, which adds a sense of sweetness or endearment. Put together, Louella works as a pet form of Louise, something like "little Lou." The name is first recorded in the 19th century, but it became fashionable in the early twentieth century, when it was popular across English-speaking countries. Its vogue owes something to the sound itself: the soft, musical ending made it feel gentle and romantic at a time when many parents favoured names with a lilting, ornamental quality.