Calla
Girl name · #1398 in 2025 · Uniqueness 61/100
Calla is currently the #1398 girl name in the United States — 156 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1566, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,538 girls born in 2025 was named Calla.
Babies named Calla per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Calla first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 176 girls were named Calla — good for #1321 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Calla against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Calla in class?
Calla scores 61 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Calla is most common
Geography matters for names, and Calla is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Callas were NC (10), TX (10), CA (9), TN (9), IL (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Calla
Statistically, parents drawn to Calla tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Noella, Kamilla, Marbella, Leela, and Baila.
NoellaKamillaMarbellaLeelaBailaMariellaAnylaCamilla
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Calla | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 156 | #1396 |
| 2024 | 143 | #1509 |
| 2023 | 130 | #1603 |
| 2022 | 135 | #1573 |
| 2021 | 134 | #1562 |
| 2020 | 135 | #1559 |
| 2019 | 111 | #1833 |
| 2018 | 122 | #1692 |
| 2017 | 176 | #1321 |
| 2016 | 164 | #1412 |
| 2015 | 140 | #1566 |
| 2014 | 140 | #1552 |
| 2013 | 139 | #1557 |
| 2012 | 120 | #1719 |
| 2011 | 104 | #1909 |
| 2010 | 134 | #1611 |
| 2009 | 107 | #1947 |
| 2008 | 96 | #2106 |
| 2007 | 92 | #2163 |
| 2006 | 87 | #2206 |
| 2005 | 81 | #2239 |
| 2004 | 71 | #2396 |
| 2003 | 60 | #2638 |
| 2002 | 50 | #2935 |
| 2001 | 69 | #2304 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Calla a popular girl name?
Calla ranked #1398 among girls in 2025 with 156 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1566.
When was the name Calla most popular?
Calla peaked in 2017, when 176 American girls received the name (ranked #1321 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Calla?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,538 newborn American girls was named Calla. It scores 61/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.