Nela: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#8,718

among girls · ↓859 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Nela

How common

1 in 133,939

girls born in 2025

Peak year

2019

27 babies

All-time total

597

#10,593 all-time among girls

First recorded

1903

in Social Security records

Nela popularity over time

597 babies have been named Nela since 1903, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	16	2	–	#1,882
1910s	49	5	+206%	#2,559
1920s	59	6	+20%	#3,072
1930s	19	2	-68%	#3,257
1940s	27	3	+42%	#4,088
1950s	26	3	-4%	#4,377
1960s	12	1	-54%	#5,688
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	5	1	–	#12,208
1990s	5	1	0%	#15,409
2000s	103	10	+1960%	#6,746
2010s	172	17	+67%	#5,001
2020s (to 2025)	104	17	+1%	#4,962

The story of Nela

Nela is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,718 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1903, 597 American babies have been named Nela. Its peak came in 2019, when 27 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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 Nela stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nela?

The median living Nela is about 12 years old; half are between 6 and 19. An estimated 400 people named Nela are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Nela year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	12	#8,718
2024	14	#7,859
2023	27	#4,962
2022	15	#7,541
2021	19	#6,344
2020	17	#6,843
2019	27	#5,001
2018	21	#5,953
2017	9	#11,361
2016	15	#7,883
2015	19	#6,647
2014	16	#7,550
2013	18	#6,943
2012	11	#10,227
2011	20	#6,503
2010	16	#7,794
2009	13	#9,261
2008	16	#8,010
2007	20	#6,746
2006	17	#7,404
2005	10	#10,709
2004	10	#10,475
2003	5	#17,631
2002	–	–
2001	5	#17,193
2000	7	#12,763
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	5	#6,457
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	9	#3,257
1925	11	#3,072
1920	6	#4,809
1915	6	#4,112
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Nela

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Nela Pocisková Slovak singer (born 1990) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Nela, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Nela?

The median living Nela is about 12 years old. Half of all living Nelas are between 6 and 19 years old.

How many people named Nela are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Nela are alive in the United States, based on 597 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Nela mean?

Nela is a Croatian, Czech and Slovak feminine given name that serves as a diminutive form of Antonela and Antonie in Croatia, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

How popular is the name Nela in 2025?

Nela ranked #8,718 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nela?

597 babies have been named Nela in the United States since 1903, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nela most popular?

Nela peaked in 2019, when 27 newborns received the name.

Is Nela a boy or girl name?

Nela is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nela rising or falling?

Nela has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Nela?

Well-known people named Nela include Nela Pocisková (singer).

Names like Nela

Names that sound and feel close to Nela: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Nela with similar names → More names starting with N →