What's in a Name?

Yes, the Italians love their "bambini" (children). I can't tell you how many times we've been gawked at as we've strolled down the streets... "Ahhhh, che bella!" and "Bambini buoni!" Of course they'll try to engage you in a conversation, and inevitably will ask the kids' names. When the kids respond, "Mia" and "Ella", we often get very puzzling looks. "Ella? That's it?", they ask, "Non é Carmela,  Antonella, .. o Angela?" I do realize "ella" is a very common suffix to many words. However, I still find it very feminine in nature. But to many Italian locals, that just doesn't seem to be enough. They're looking for a little more drama to their encounter, as if my kids are the namesake of some famous Renaissance artist, or patriarchal saint, or even a Latin lover. I understand their point. Italians are very passionate people, and the exchange of emotions are a way of life. The name "Ella" just seems like I've handed them a pile of cliff-notes. It's as if I've shortchanged them somehow, that they are not getting the whole story. My only hope is that they don't ask for Mia's name in the same passing - because in Italian, that means "my".