Lela
Girl name · #2368 in 2025 · Uniqueness 80/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lela against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lela in class?
Lela scores 80 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Lela is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Lelas were OH (6), GA (5), TN (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 80/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.