Lela

#2,368 for girls in 2025, 76 births · Last seen for boys in 1938 at #3,175
Given to girls 99.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1896 · 425 births
Debut · girls
106 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
43,005
since 1880

Lela over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Lela has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201913peak #113, 1896girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#2,36876—
2024#2,20386—
2023#2,14289—
2022#1,961100—
2021#1,816111—
2020#1,808109—
2019#1,763116—
2018#1,554139—
2017#1,545142—
2016#1,512150—
2015#1,526147—
2014#1,471152—
2013#1,440156—
2012#1,322178—
2011#1,540142—
2010#1,536145—
2009#1,444161—
2008#1,486157—
2007#1,370176—
2006#1,462152—
2005#1,471143—
2004#1,498134—
2003#1,579122—
2002#1,720106—
2001#1,641111—
2000#1,533118—
1999#1,73892—
1998#2,24463—
1997#2,17463—
1996#1,89876—
1995#2,30957—
1994#2,43252—
1993#1,94272—
1992#2,31856—
1991#1,77980—
1990#1,86276—
1989#1,92567—
1988#1,86366—
1987#1,51984—
1986#1,58875—
1985#1,37394—
1984#1,34390—
1983#1,220104—
1982#1,34592—
1981#1,193110—
1980#1,47482—
1979#1,226106—
1978#1,194105—
1977#1,206101—
1976#1,21693—
1975#1,30185—
1974#1,143101—
1973#947127—
1972#1,079106—
1971#1,074112—
1970#961132—
1969#1,066106—
1968#893133—
1967#1,011103—
1966#897126—
1965#819147—
1964#811166—
1963#801168—
1962#814165—
1961#744195—
1960#786169—
1959#696207—
1958#673216—
1957#684209—
1956#620238—
1955#588244—
1954#562250—
1953#555248—
1952#514270—
1951#550234—
1950#493266—
1949#417356—
1948#444323—
1947#455323—
1946#445301—
1945#394326—
1944#390328—
1943#392344—
1942#365371—
1941#348355—
1940#352335—
1939#333359—
1938#320384#3,1756
1937#302418—
1936#301407—
1935#290427—
1934#284466#3,6795
1933#273510#3,2686
1932#275504—
1931#259558—
1930#259586#4,0015
1929#252631#3,9595
1928#243659#3,6976
1927#250682#4,2105
1926#244721—
1925#228818—
1924#223863—
1923#226816#3,8226
1922#220865#3,5327
1921#212907—
1920#218878—
1919#207898#3,7366
1918#209896#3,7286
1917#212828—
1916#199888—
1915#213774—
1914#202647—
1913#188595—
1912#184523—
1911#162489—
1910#161469—
1909#161414—
1908#161411—
1907#144453—
1906#137447—
1905#134465—
1904#135431—
1903#133420—
1902#125459—
1901#117443—
1900#122530—
1899#116417—
1898#115459—
1897#116438—
1896#113425—
1895#121388—
1894#113413—
1893#120358—
1892#124353—
1891#117337—
1890#127304—
1889#133268—
1888#126292—
1887#131207—
1886#122230#9595
1885#139168—
1884#119213—
1883#126163—
1882#126143—
1881#127125—
1880#141106—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Lela was already there! It came in at #141, and was given to 106 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1992–1998, when fewer than 77 girls a year got the name.

Where Lela is popular in 1913

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedMNIllinois: #197 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 1,323 girlsILWisconsin: #195 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,332 girlsWIMichigan: #238 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,745 girlsMINew York: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedSDIowa: #117 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 559 girlsIAIndiana: #131 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 734 girlsINOhio: #211 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,608 girlsOHPennsylvania: #350 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 5,790 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #297 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,372 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedUTColorado: #153 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 732 girlsCONebraska: #120 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 516 girlsNEMissouri: #123 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 548 girlsMOKentucky: #120 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 505 girlsKYWest Virginia: #218 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,283 girlsWVVirginia: #261 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,217 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedNMKansas: #130 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 612 girlsKSArkansas: #108 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 363 girlsARTennessee: #121 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 440 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #125 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 501 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #160 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 779 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #105 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 373 girlsOKLouisiana: #138 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 552 girlsLAMississippi: #88 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 338 girlsMSAlabama: #116 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 477 girlsALGeorgia: #175 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 897 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedHITexas: #95 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 403 girlsTXFlorida: #140 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 552 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Mississippi#88 · 1 in 338
  2. Texas#95 · 1 in 403
  3. Oklahoma#105 · 1 in 373
  4. Arkansas#108 · 1 in 363
  5. Alabama#116 · 1 in 477

Best ever in a state: #70 in Mississippi, 1911.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#88371 in 338
Texas#95741 in 403
Oklahoma#105311 in 373
Arkansas#108281 in 363
Alabama#116351 in 477
Iowa#117191 in 559
Kentucky#120311 in 505
Nebraska#120121 in 516
Tennessee#121331 in 440
Missouri#123311 in 548
North Carolina#125371 in 501
Kansas#130141 in 612
Indiana#131181 in 734
Louisiana#138221 in 552
Florida#140101 in 552
Colorado#15351 in 732
South Carolina#160161 in 779
Georgia#175231 in 897
Wisconsin#19591 in 1,332
Illinois#197251 in 1,323
Ohio#211171 in 1,608
West Virginia#21871 in 1,283
Michigan#23891 in 1,745
Virginia#26171 in 2,217
California#29751 in 2,372
Pennsylvania#35091 in 5,790
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
New York———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Lela
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 165 spots since 2024 (#2,203 → #2,368)
  • 560 spots since 2020 (#1,808 → #2,368)
  • 842 spots since 2015 (#1,526 → #2,368)
  • Biggest jump: 132 spots in 1973 (#1,079 → #947)
  • Biggest drop: 196 spots in 1974 (#947 → #1,143)
Rise & fade · girls
16 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1896 at #113 (425 births)
  • Births halved by 1957, 61 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 90 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 90 yrs · run 1880–1966
Share of babies · girls
1 in 535
  • Highest: 1 in 535 girls born in 1897 were named Lela (0.19%)
  • Latest: 1 in 21,148 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #113 in 1896, was only 1 in 560 (0.18%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 18.2% of all girls named Lela (7,840) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,915#119 (1884)#129
1890s3,892#113 (1896)#118
1900s4,473#117 (1901)#137
1910s7,007#161 (1910)#194
1920s7,840#212 (1921)#232
1930s4,619#259 (1930)#290
1940s3,362#348 (1941)#400
1950s2,382#493 (1950)#594
1960s1,478#744 (1961)#864
1970s1,068#947 (1973)#1,135
1980s864#1,193 (1981)#1,484
1990s687#1,738 (1999)#2,070
2000s1,380#1,370 (2007)#1,520
2010s1,467#1,322 (2012)#1,521
2020s571#1,808 (2020)#2,050

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Lela in 1913

girls
#188
595 births · 1 in 1,050 girls

Top girls' names in 1913

  1. #1Mary36,642
  2. #2Helen18,888
  3. #3Dorothy14,674
  4. #4Margaret14,486
  5. #5Ruth12,609
  6. #6Mildred9,921
  7. #7Anna9,687
  8. #8Elizabeth9,505
  9. #9Frances7,694
  10. #10Marie7,353
  11. #188Lela595
More about 1913

girls

624,546 girls got a published name in 1913; 1 in 1,050 of them was named Lela, which outranked 94.9% of the 3,707 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Lela
  1. #185Freda613
  2. #186Isabelle606
  3. #187Addie605
  4. #188Lela595
  5. #189Marcella590
  6. #190Patricia588
  7. #191Iva577
Biggest movers since 1912
Risers
  1. ↑ 963Dominga#1,844 → #881
  2. ↑ 931Stacia#1,844 → #913
  3. ↑ 576Olympia#1,477 → #901
  4. ↑ 559Lilah#1,540 → #981
  5. ↑ 445Elfrieda#1,297 → #852
Fallers
  1. ↓ 806Karen#960 → #1,766
  2. ↓ 572Erie#833 → #1,405
  3. ↓ 559Gertha#846 → #1,405
  4. ↓ 527Lossie#938 → #1,465
  5. ↓ 505Ardelia#960 → #1,465

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1913 →