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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201945peak #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 1945

  • 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: #409 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 5,127 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedWIMichigan: #338 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 4,155 girlsMINew York: #844 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 21,660 girlsNYMassachusetts: 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: #163 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 923 girlsSDIowa: #334 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,929 girlsIAIndiana: #301 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,283 girlsINOhio: #379 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 4,977 girlsOHPennsylvania: #401 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 5,583 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #420 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 4,175 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedNEMissouri: #284 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,718 girlsMOKentucky: #271 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,067 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedWVVirginia: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedVAMaryland: 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: #219 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,709 girlsKSArkansas: #281 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,035 girlsARTennessee: #260 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,989 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #315 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,898 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #361 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,334 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #251 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,686 girlsOKLouisiana: #363 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,567 girlsLAMississippi: #226 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,110 girlsMSAlabama: #225 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,302 girlsALGeorgia: #406 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 4,298 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Lela, so not publishedHITexas: #309 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 2,063 girlsTXFlorida: #373 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,208 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. South Dakota#163 · 1 in 923
  2. Kansas#219 · 1 in 1,709
  3. Alabama#225 · 1 in 1,302
  4. Mississippi#226 · 1 in 1,110
  5. Oklahoma#251 · 1 in 1,686

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
South Dakota#16351 in 923
Kansas#21981 in 1,709
Alabama#225241 in 1,302
Mississippi#226211 in 1,110
Oklahoma#251111 in 1,686
Tennessee#260151 in 1,989
Kentucky#271131 in 2,067
Arkansas#28191 in 2,035
Missouri#284111 in 2,718
Indiana#30191 in 3,283
Texas#309351 in 2,063
North Carolina#315141 in 2,898
Iowa#33451 in 3,929
Michigan#338121 in 4,155
South Carolina#36171 in 3,334
Louisiana#363101 in 2,567
Florida#37371 in 3,208
Ohio#379121 in 4,977
Pennsylvania#401141 in 5,583
Georgia#40681 in 4,298
Illinois#409121 in 5,127
California#420201 in 4,175
New York#84451 in 21,660
Alaska———
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Colorado———
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Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
Utah———
Vermont———
Virginia———
Washington———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
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 1945

girls
#394
326 births · 1 in 4,009 girls

Top girls' names in 1945

  1. #1Mary59,278
  2. #2Linda41,465
  3. #3Barbara38,273
  4. #4Patricia35,844
  5. #5Carol30,389
  6. #6Sandra24,700
  7. #7Nancy21,456
  8. #8Sharon20,838
  9. #9Judith20,192
  10. #10Susan19,222
  11. #394Lela326
More about 1945

girls

1,307,090 girls got a published name in 1945; 1 in 4,009 of them was named Lela, which outranked 92.5% of the 5,242 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.8% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Lela
  1. #391Rena331
  2. #392Adele330
  3. #393Earline328
  4. #394Lela326
  5. #395Ora325
  6. #396Sherrie320
  7. #397Karla319
Biggest movers since 1944
Risers
  1. ↑ 799Lauren#1,153 → #354
  2. ↑ 707Amber#1,661 → #954
  3. ↑ 648Laureen#1,315 → #667
  4. ↑ 630Deidre#1,609 → #979
  5. ↑ 623Candice#1,364 → #741
Fallers
  1. ↓ 395Bernardine#937 → #1,332
  2. ↓ 386Joella#988 → #1,374
  3. ↓ 342Venita#937 → #1,279
  4. ↓ 275Magdalene#867 → #1,142
  5. ↓ 249Alpha#964 → #1,213

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

See the top 100 for 1945 →