Novella
Girl name · #2544 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
In 2025, 69 baby girls were named Novella, placing it at #2544 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4144, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 26,087 girls born in 2025 was named Novella.
Babies named Novella per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 143-year story
Novella first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1923, when 186 girls were named Novella — good for #513 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Novella against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Novella in class?
Novella scores 57 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Novella is most common
Geography matters for names, and Novella is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Novellas were OH (7), IL (5), IN (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 Novella
Statistically, parents drawn to Novella tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rosella, Nella, Adella, Lovella, and Carmella.
RosellaNellaAdellaLovellaCarmellaLouellaZellaVella
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Novella | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69 | #2542 |
| 2024 | 44 | #3516 |
| 2023 | 64 | #2704 |
| 2022 | 58 | #2894 |
| 2021 | 51 | #3157 |
| 2020 | 47 | #3281 |
| 2019 | 66 | #2632 |
| 2018 | 53 | #3050 |
| 2017 | 49 | #3247 |
| 2016 | 41 | #3707 |
| 2015 | 35 | #4144 |
| 2014 | 47 | #3369 |
| 2013 | 26 | #5143 |
| 2012 | 28 | #4957 |
| 2011 | 33 | #4353 |
| 2010 | 27 | #5108 |
| 2009 | 25 | #5537 |
| 2008 | 28 | #5142 |
| 2007 | 19 | #6812 |
| 2005 | 6 | #14502 |
| 2004 | 7 | #12761 |
| 2003 | 6 | #13844 |
| 2002 | 9 | #10246 |
| 2001 | 7 | #12056 |
| 2000 | 7 | #11801 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Novella a popular girl name?
Novella ranked #2544 among girls in 2025 with 69 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4144.
When was the name Novella most popular?
Novella peaked in 1923, when 186 American girls received the name (ranked #513 that year). Since 1923 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Novella?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 26,087 newborn American girls was named Novella. It scores 57/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.