Elle is a Diminutive of Eleanor and other names beginning with El. This name can also be given in reference to the French pronoun elle meaning "she".Notable BearersAlready 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. In the United Kingdom the name was already fairly common at the time the movie came out, and it actually started declining there shortly afterwards. A famous bearer is American actress Elle Fanning (1998-). Other notable bearers include American cyclist Elle Anderson, Australian water polo player Elle Armit, and former American surfer and reality TV personality Holly Marie Combs's character. The name appears in various fields: American sportscaster Elle Duncan, model and actress Elle Evans, and actress Elle Graham, among others.Cultural SignificanceAs a diminutive, Elle shares connections with many variants and diminutives of Eleanor, such as Bess, Bessie, Beth, Nellie, and others. In other languages and cultures, related names include Swedish Helena and Helene, Welsh Elen, Armenian Heghine and Zabel, and Ukrainian Lena. The name's simplicity and its association with the French word for "she" imbue it with a modern, international appeal.Origin: English (diminutive of Eleanor, also derived from French elle 'she')Type: First name, feminineMeaning: Diminutive of Eleanor; also 'she' in FrenchUsage: English-speaking countries