Gisela
Girl name · #3915 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Gisela? In official American birth records, Gisela has been tracked continuously since 1915, giving it 110 years of documented American history.
Gisela ranks #3915 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 37 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3211, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 48,649 girls born in 2025 was named Gisela.
Babies named Gisela per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 110-year story
Gisela first appears in the Social Security records in 1915, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 160 girls were named Gisela — good for #1107 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 Gisela against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gisela in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gisela is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Gisela will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gisela is most common
State-level data for Gisela 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 Gisela
Statistically, parents drawn to Gisela tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Graciela, Isela, Marcela, Fabiola, and Mirella.
GracielaIselaMarcelaFabiolaMirellaMicaelaMariselaSeneca
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gisela | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | #3903 |
| 2024 | 33 | #4294 |
| 2023 | 40 | #3763 |
| 2022 | 34 | #4202 |
| 2021 | 30 | #4507 |
| 2020 | 38 | #3778 |
| 2019 | 33 | #4260 |
| 2018 | 41 | #3677 |
| 2017 | 41 | #3697 |
| 2016 | 46 | #3411 |
| 2015 | 51 | #3211 |
| 2014 | 41 | #3719 |
| 2013 | 42 | #3645 |
| 2012 | 56 | #3006 |
| 2011 | 61 | #2838 |
| 2010 | 68 | #2642 |
| 2009 | 56 | #3047 |
| 2008 | 83 | #2334 |
| 2007 | 81 | #2348 |
| 2006 | 102 | #1961 |
| 2005 | 114 | #1731 |
| 2004 | 115 | #1684 |
| 2003 | 118 | #1625 |
| 2002 | 81 | #2100 |
| 2001 | 85 | #1995 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gisela?
In official American birth records, the name Gisela first appeared in 1915 (over 110 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 110 years.
Is Gisela a popular girl name?
Gisela ranked #3915 among girls in 2025 with 37 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3211.
When was the name Gisela most popular?
Gisela peaked in 1995, when 160 American girls received the name (ranked #1107 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gisela?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 48,649 newborn American girls was named Gisela. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.