Lala
A feminine French baby name meaning "babbling brook".
Name Census estimates that about 563 living Americans carry the first name Lala. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lala today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lala births was 1921 (39 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lala. 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
563
~ 1 in 608,800 Americans
Peak year
1921
39 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,771
Tracked since 1884
Popularity
Lala: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lala from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 335 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lala 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 Lala during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lalas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Lala, while Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 46 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lala
The name Lala is believed to have its roots in the Sanskrit language, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is thought to be derived from the word "laal," which means "ruby" or "red," reflecting the deep and vibrant color. The name has been in use since ancient times in various parts of South Asia, particularly in regions where Sanskrit and its derivatives were spoken.
In Hindu mythology, Lala is mentioned as a name for the goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. This association gives the name a divine and spiritual connotation within the Hindu tradition. The name can also be found in ancient Indian literature, such as the Puranas and other religious texts, further solidifying its historical significance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lala dates back to the 5th century BCE, when it was mentioned in the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. In this epic, Lala is described as a skilled archer and a warrior who fought alongside the Pandava princes during the Kurukshetra War.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lala. One prominent figure was Lala Lajpat Rai (1865-1928), a prominent Indian freedom fighter and leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule. He was famously known as "Punjab Kesari" (Lion of Punjab) for his unwavering commitment to the cause of Indian nationalism.
Another noteworthy individual was Lala Amarnath (1911-2000), an Indian cricketer who is considered one of the greatest batsmen in the history of Indian cricket. He was the first Indian to score a century in Test cricket and was part of the Indian team that toured England in 1936 and 1946.
In the realm of literature, Lala Munshi Prem Chand (1880-1936) was a renowned Indian writer and novelist who is regarded as the "Upanyas Samrat" (King of Novels) in Hindi literature. His works, such as "Godaan" and "Premashram," vividly depicted the struggles and lives of rural India during the early 20th century.
Lala Hans Raj Suri (1851-1938) was an Indian educator and philanthropist who founded the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (D.A.V.) College Trust, an organization dedicated to promoting education and preserving Indian culture and values. His efforts led to the establishment of numerous educational institutions across India.
Lastly, Lala Lajpat Rai (1865-1928), mentioned earlier, was a notable figure in the Indian independence movement and a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress. He played a crucial role in the Non-Cooperation Movement and was famously known for his slogan "Vande Mataram" (Hail to the Mother), which became a rallying cry for Indian nationalism.
People
Lala + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lala as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lala: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lala?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 563 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lala 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 608,800 US residents.
Is Lala a common name?
We classify Lala as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,765 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lala most popular?
The single biggest year for Lala was 1921, when 39 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lala is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lala a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lala 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.