Vela: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	6	1	–	#1,264
1890s	48	5	+700%	#1,165
1900s	108	11	+125%	#964
1910s	205	21	+90%	#1,113
1920s	180	18	-12%	#1,729
1930s	104	10	-42%	#2,282
1940s	53	5	-49%	#3,718
1950s	40	4	-25%	#3,482
1960s	32	3	-20%	#5,451
1970s	5	1	-84%	#9,307
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	5	1	–	#16,496
2000s	12	1	+140%	#15,388
2010s	165	17	+1275%	#5,605
2020s (to 2025)	119	20	+20%	#4,947

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#1,264

1890s

+700%

#1,165

1900s

108

+125%

#964

1910s

205

+90%

#1,113

1920s

180

-12%

#1,729

1930s

104

-42%

#2,282

1940s

-49%

#3,718

1950s

-25%

#3,482

1960s

-20%

#5,451

1970s

-84%

#9,307

1980s

–

1990s

–

#16,496

2000s

+140%

#15,388

2010s

165

+1275%

#5,605

2020s (to 2025)

119

+20%

#4,947

The story of Vela

Vela is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,813 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1888, 1,082 American babies have been named Vela. Its peak came in 1915, when 38 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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

How old are people named Vela?

The median living Vela is about 10 years old; half are between 5 and 64. An estimated 400 people named Vela 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.

Vela year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	17	#6,813
2024	21	#5,945
2023	26	#5,117
2022	17	#6,963
2021	27	#4,947
2020	11	#9,506
2019	18	#6,684
2018	20	#6,226
2017	16	#7,426
2016	24	#5,605
2015	22	#6,020
2014	16	#7,615
2013	12	#9,581
2012	10	#11,203
2011	12	#9,690
2010	15	#8,256
2009	5	#20,046
2008	–	–
2007	7	#15,388
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	5	#9,307
1965	–	–
1960	6	#6,350
1955	–	–
1950	7	#4,715
1945	6	#4,523
1940	6	#4,315
1935	8	#3,407
1930	15	#2,295
1925	18	#2,187
1920	22	#1,883
1915	38	#1,113
1910	13	#1,332
1905	16	#964
1900	11	#1,221
1895	5	#1,796
1890	5	#1,518
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Vela?

The median living Vela is about 10 years old. Half of all living Velas are between 5 and 64 years old.

How many people named Vela are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Vela are alive in the United States, based on 1,082 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Vela in 2025?

Vela ranked #6,813 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Vela?

1,082 babies have been named Vela in the United States since 1888, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Vela most popular?

Vela peaked in 1915, when 38 newborns received the name.

Is Vela a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Vela rising or falling?

Vela is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Vela

Vela popularity over time

The story of Vela

How old are people named Vela?

Vela year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Vela