Calla
Girl name · #1398 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Calla? In official American birth records, Calla has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Calla is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Calla will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Calla is most common
State-level data for Calla is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Calla?
In official American birth records, the name Calla first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.