Lela
A female given name from Georgian ლელა (lela).
Every Lela since 1880 — 43,073 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Lela
Lela is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,374 in 2025 with 76 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 43,073 American babies have been named Lela. Its peak came in 1921, when 907 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Lela stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Lela year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 76 | #2,374 | — | — |
| 2024 | 86 | #2,209 | — | — |
| 2023 | 89 | #2,151 | — | — |
| 2022 | 100 | #1,970 | — | — |
| 2021 | 111 | #1,823 | — | — |
| 2020 | 109 | #1,814 | — | — |
| 2019 | 116 | #1,765 | — | — |
| 2018 | 139 | #1,562 | — | — |
| 2017 | 142 | #1,548 | — | — |
| 2016 | 150 | #1,514 | — | — |
| 2015 | 147 | #1,530 | — | — |
| 2014 | 152 | #1,477 | — | — |
| 2013 | 156 | #1,444 | — | — |
| 2012 | 178 | #1,325 | — | — |
| 2011 | 142 | #1,552 | — | — |
| 2010 | 145 | #1,542 | — | — |
| 2009 | 161 | #1,446 | — | — |
| 2008 | 157 | #1,492 | — | — |
| 2007 | 176 | #1,378 | — | — |
| 2006 | 152 | #1,465 | — | — |
| 2005 | 143 | #1,476 | — | — |
| 2004 | 134 | #1,508 | — | — |
| 2003 | 122 | #1,585 | — | — |
| 2002 | 106 | #1,725 | — | — |
| 2001 | 111 | #1,644 | — | — |
| 2000 | 118 | #1,538 | — | — |
| 1995 | 57 | #2,326 | — | — |
| 1990 | 76 | #1,869 | — | — |
| 1985 | 94 | #1,377 | — | — |
| 1980 | 82 | #1,477 | — | — |
| 1975 | 85 | #1,305 | — | — |
| 1970 | 132 | #964 | — | — |
| 1965 | 147 | #821 | — | — |
| 1960 | 169 | #787 | — | — |
| 1955 | 244 | #590 | — | — |
| 1950 | 266 | #494 | — | — |
| 1945 | 326 | #394 | — | — |
| 1940 | 335 | #352 | — | — |
| 1935 | 427 | #290 | — | — |
| 1930 | 586 | #259 | 5 | #4,315 |
| 1925 | 818 | #228 | — | — |
| 1920 | 878 | #218 | — | — |
| 1915 | 774 | #213 | — | — |
| 1910 | 469 | #161 | — | — |
| 1905 | 465 | #135 | — | — |
| 1900 | 530 | #122 | — | — |
| 1895 | 388 | #121 | — | — |
| 1890 | 304 | #129 | — | — |
| 1885 | 168 | #139 | — | — |
| 1880 | 106 | #142 | — | — |
Famous people named Lela
- Leïla Slimani Writer · b. 1981
- Lela Star Pornographic actor · b. 1985
- Leïla Bekhti Actor · b. 1984
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lela mean?
A female given name from Georgian ლელა (lela).
How popular is the name Lela in 2025?
Lela ranked #2,374 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 76 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Lela?
43,073 babies have been named Lela in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Lela most popular?
Lela peaked in 1921, when 907 newborns received the name.
Is Lela a boy or girl name?
Lela is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Lela rising or falling?
Lela is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Lela?
Well-known people named Lela include Leïla Slimani (writer), Lela Star (pornographic actor), Leïla Bekhti (actor).