Lela
Girl name · #2368 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Lela? In official American birth records, Lela has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 76 baby girls were named Lela, placing it at #2368 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1526, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 23,684 girls born in 2025 was named Lela.
The 145-year story
Lela first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 106 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 907 girls were named Lela — good for #212 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Babies named Lela per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lela against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lela in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Lela is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Lela will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Lela is most common
State-level data for Lela 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 Lela
Statistically, parents drawn to Lela tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Manuela, Lula, Carmela, Lavina, and Neva.
ManuelaLulaCarmelaLavinaNevaLaviniaLillaLizzie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lela | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 76 | #2368 |
| 2024 | 86 | #2203 |
| 2023 | 89 | #2142 |
| 2022 | 100 | #1961 |
| 2021 | 111 | #1816 |
| 2020 | 109 | #1808 |
| 2019 | 116 | #1763 |
| 2018 | 139 | #1554 |
| 2017 | 142 | #1545 |
| 2016 | 150 | #1512 |
| 2015 | 147 | #1526 |
| 2014 | 152 | #1471 |
| 2013 | 156 | #1440 |
| 2012 | 178 | #1322 |
| 2011 | 142 | #1540 |
| 2010 | 145 | #1536 |
| 2009 | 161 | #1444 |
| 2008 | 157 | #1486 |
| 2007 | 176 | #1370 |
| 2006 | 152 | #1462 |
| 2005 | 143 | #1471 |
| 2004 | 134 | #1498 |
| 2003 | 122 | #1579 |
| 2002 | 106 | #1720 |
| 2001 | 111 | #1641 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Lela?
In official American birth records, the name Lela first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 106 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Lela a popular girl name?
Lela ranked #2368 among girls in 2025 with 76 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1526.
When was the name Lela most popular?
Lela peaked in 1921, when 907 American girls received the name (ranked #212 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lela?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 23,684 newborn American girls was named Lela. 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.