Novella
Girl name · #2544 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Novella? In official American birth records, Novella has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Novella is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Novella will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Novella is most common
State-level data for Novella 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 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
How old is the name Novella?
In official American birth records, the name Novella first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. 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.