Ola
A female given name used in the U.S.
Every Ola since 1880 — 30,275 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ola
Ola is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,227 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 30,275 American babies have been named Ola. Its peak came in 1920, when 772 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 Ola stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ola 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 | 13 | #8,227 | — | — |
| 2024 | 16 | #7,177 | — | — |
| 2023 | 17 | #6,861 | — | — |
| 2022 | 12 | #8,914 | — | — |
| 2021 | 10 | #10,127 | — | — |
| 2020 | 14 | #7,858 | — | — |
| 2019 | 13 | #8,491 | — | — |
| 2018 | 11 | #9,654 | — | — |
| 2017 | 17 | #7,027 | — | — |
| 2016 | 19 | #6,610 | — | — |
| 2015 | 18 | #6,917 | — | — |
| 2014 | 9 | #11,697 | — | — |
| 2013 | 9 | #11,726 | — | — |
| 2012 | 6 | #16,357 | — | — |
| 2011 | 14 | #8,523 | — | — |
| 2010 | 9 | #12,018 | — | — |
| 2009 | 5 | #19,455 | — | — |
| 2008 | 15 | #8,435 | — | — |
| 2007 | 8 | #13,603 | — | — |
| 2006 | 15 | #8,142 | — | — |
| 2005 | 11 | #9,957 | — | — |
| 2004 | 13 | #8,600 | — | — |
| 2003 | 10 | #10,237 | — | — |
| 2002 | 11 | #9,323 | — | — |
| 2001 | 12 | #8,595 | — | — |
| 2000 | 17 | #6,406 | — | — |
| 1995 | 10 | #8,557 | — | — |
| 1990 | 10 | #8,331 | — | — |
| 1985 | 15 | #5,019 | — | — |
| 1980 | 18 | #4,261 | 5 | #6,989 |
| 1975 | 23 | #3,128 | — | — |
| 1970 | 33 | #2,340 | 6 | #4,583 |
| 1965 | 36 | #1,941 | — | — |
| 1960 | 75 | #1,275 | — | — |
| 1955 | 130 | #852 | — | — |
| 1950 | 216 | #569 | 5 | #4,052 |
| 1945 | 242 | #459 | — | — |
| 1940 | 349 | #346 | 6 | #3,368 |
| 1935 | 406 | #305 | 8 | #2,877 |
| 1930 | 529 | #284 | 15 | #2,041 |
| 1925 | 678 | #253 | 9 | #3,080 |
| 1920 | 748 | #239 | 24 | #1,581 |
| 1915 | 611 | #240 | 23 | #1,443 |
| 1910 | 422 | #167 | 10 | #1,098 |
| 1905 | 344 | #162 | 8 | #981 |
| 1900 | 352 | #160 | 5 | #1,446 |
| 1895 | 261 | #163 | — | — |
| 1890 | 239 | #149 | 7 | #857 |
| 1885 | 139 | #155 | — | — |
| 1880 | 67 | #184 | — | — |
Famous people named Ola
- Ola Ullsten Politician · 1931–2018
- Ola Rapace Actor · b. 1971
- Ola Toivonen Soccer player · b. 1986
- Ola Lindgren Handball player · b. 1964
- Ola By Rise Soccer player · b. 1960
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ola mean?
A female given name used in the U.S.
How popular is the name Ola in 2025?
Ola ranked #8,227 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ola?
30,275 babies have been named Ola in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ola most popular?
Ola peaked in 1920, when 772 newborns received the name.
Is Ola a boy or girl name?
Ola is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 98% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ola rising or falling?
Ola is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ola?
Well-known people named Ola include Ola Ullsten (politician), Ola Rapace (actor), Ola Toivonen (soccer player).