Nella
Girl name · #2823 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nella? In official American birth records, Nella has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 60 baby girls were named Nella, placing it at #2823 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2890, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 30,000 girls born in 2025 was named Nella.
The 145-year story
Nella first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1927, when 81 girls were named Nella — good for #810 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 Nella per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nella against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nella in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nella is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nella will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nella is most common
State-level data for Nella 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 Nella
Statistically, parents drawn to Nella tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Novella, Adella, Zella, Vella, and Rosella.
NovellaAdellaZellaVellaRosellaLovellaLillaLouella
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nella | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 60 | #2822 |
| 2024 | 61 | #2775 |
| 2023 | 61 | #2789 |
| 2022 | 81 | #2295 |
| 2021 | 72 | #2460 |
| 2020 | 66 | #2580 |
| 2019 | 74 | #2400 |
| 2018 | 80 | #2275 |
| 2017 | 75 | #2401 |
| 2016 | 58 | #2902 |
| 2015 | 60 | #2890 |
| 2014 | 63 | #2739 |
| 2013 | 51 | #3166 |
| 2012 | 58 | #2935 |
| 2011 | 39 | #3843 |
| 2010 | 39 | #3889 |
| 2009 | 48 | #3409 |
| 2008 | 32 | #4647 |
| 2007 | 22 | #6093 |
| 2006 | 25 | #5383 |
| 2005 | 12 | #8883 |
| 2004 | 15 | #7391 |
| 2002 | 12 | #8280 |
| 2001 | 6 | #13521 |
| 1999 | 5 | #14411 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nella?
In official American birth records, the name Nella first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 10 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nella a popular girl name?
Nella ranked #2823 among girls in 2025 with 60 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2890.
When was the name Nella most popular?
Nella peaked in 1927, when 81 American girls received the name (ranked #810 that year). Since 1927 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nella?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 30,000 newborn American girls was named Nella. 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.