Chela
A Sanskrit name meaning "disciple" or "student" in Indian spiritual traditions.
Name Census estimates that about 448 living Americans carry the first name Chela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Chela today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Chela births was 1985 (79 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Chela. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
448
~ 1 in 765,077 Americans
Peak year
1985
79 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
2011 SSA rank
#15,235
Tracked since 1955
Popularity
Chela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Chela from the 1950s through to the 2010s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 185 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chela by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Chela during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Chelas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Virginia, California, District of Columbia recorded the most babies named Chela, while North Carolina, South Carolina, District of Columbia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Chela
The name Chela has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient language of India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "chela," which translates to "disciple" or "pupil." The name gained prominence in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, where it was used to refer to students of spiritual teachers or gurus.
In Hinduism, the concept of a chela, or disciple, is deeply rooted in the ancient Vedic tradition. Chelas were individuals who dedicated themselves to the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment under the guidance of a guru or spiritual master. This relationship between the guru and chela was considered sacred, and the chela was expected to serve and learn from the guru with utmost devotion and humility.
The name Chela also holds significance in Buddhism, particularly in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In this context, the term "chela" referred to individuals who sought spiritual guidance and wisdom from Buddhist masters or lamas. The chela-lama relationship was instrumental in the preservation and transmission of Buddhist teachings and practices across generations.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Chela can be found in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, where a character named Chela is mentioned as a disciple of the sage Gautama. This reference dates back to the 8th century BCE, indicating the ancient roots of the name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chela. One prominent figure was Chela Nag, a 12th-century saint and mystic from Kashmir, known for his profound spiritual teachings and contribution to the spread of Shaivism, a branch of Hinduism.
Another notable Chela was Chela Butri, a 17th-century Tibetan Buddhist master and scholar, who was renowned for his expertise in Buddhist philosophy and his contributions to the preservation of Tibetan Buddhist literature and teachings.
In the realm of literature, Chela Hanuman Prasad Poddar was a 19th-century Indian writer and poet, best known for his literary works in Hindi and Urdu. His works explored themes of spirituality, social reform, and the struggles of the common people.
Chela Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, born in 1835, was a prominent Bengali playwright and social reformer. He used his literary works to advocate for social and educational reforms, particularly in the areas of women's rights and education.
Lastly, Chela Ram Sanghani, born in 1887, was an Indian freedom fighter and political activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He was a dedicated follower of Mahatma Gandhi and participated in various non-violent protests against British rule.
These examples demonstrate the rich history and significance of the name Chela across different cultures, religions, and time periods, reflecting its deep-rooted connection to the concepts of discipleship, spiritual pursuit, and the transmission of knowledge.
People
Chela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Chela as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Chela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Chela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 448 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Chela going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 765,077 US residents.
Is Chela a common name?
We classify Chela as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 474 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Chela most popular?
The single biggest year for Chela was 1985, when 79 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Chela is about 37 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Chela a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Chela in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.