Vella
Girl name · #4881 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Vella? In official American birth records, Vella has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 27 baby girls were named Vella, placing it at #4881 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #6977, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 66,667 girls born in 2025 was named Vella.
The 143-year story
Vella first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1915, when 53 girls were named Vella — good for #900 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 Vella per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Vella against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Vella in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Vella is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Vella will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Vella is most common
State-level data for Vella 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 Vella
Statistically, parents drawn to Vella tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lovella, Lilla, Nella, Zella, and Adella.
LovellaLillaNellaZellaAdellaNovellaViraVerona
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Vella | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #4878 |
| 2024 | 25 | #5148 |
| 2023 | 19 | #6169 |
| 2022 | 23 | #5465 |
| 2021 | 18 | #6414 |
| 2020 | 28 | #4648 |
| 2019 | 25 | #5163 |
| 2018 | 19 | #6248 |
| 2017 | 22 | #5661 |
| 2016 | 20 | #6186 |
| 2015 | 17 | #6977 |
| 2014 | 16 | #7302 |
| 2013 | 21 | #6017 |
| 2012 | 19 | #6576 |
| 2011 | 16 | #7436 |
| 2010 | 14 | #8271 |
| 2009 | 11 | #9975 |
| 2008 | 11 | #10084 |
| 2007 | 7 | #13924 |
| 2005 | 5 | #16462 |
| 1982 | 7 | #8224 |
| 1973 | 5 | #8423 |
| 1972 | 6 | #7292 |
| 1967 | 6 | #6042 |
| 1966 | 5 | #6564 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Vella?
In official American birth records, the name Vella 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 Vella a popular girl name?
Vella ranked #4881 among girls in 2025 with 27 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #6977.
When was the name Vella most popular?
Vella peaked in 1915, when 53 American girls received the name (ranked #900 that year). Since 1915 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Vella?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 66,667 newborn American girls was named Vella. 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.