Lela
A feminine name of French origin meaning "mirror, reflection".
Name Census estimates that about 11,134 living Americans carry the first name Lela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lela today is around 51 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lela births was 1921 (907 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lela. 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.
Key insights
- • Although Lela is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 68 boys registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
11K
~ 1 in 30,784 Americans
Peak year
1921
907 babies that year
Average age
51
years old
1938 SSA rank
#2,200
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Lela
Out of the 42,994 babies given the name Lela since 1880, 99.8% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Lela as a male name
- Ranked #3,372 in 1938
- 6 male births in 1938
- Peak: 1922 (7 births)
Lela as a female name
- Ranked #2,200 in 2024
- 86 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1921 (907 births)
Popularity
Lela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lela 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 7,869 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
Lela 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 Lela during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lelas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 42 states and territories. Texas, Alabama, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Lela, while Nevada, North Dakota, District of Columbia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 654 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lela
The name Lela has its origins in the Greek language and can be traced back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "lelos," which means "calm" or "serene." The name was particularly popular in Greece during the Classical era, although it was also used in other parts of the ancient Mediterranean world.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lela can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. Herodotus mentions a woman named Lela in his famous work "The Histories," suggesting that the name was in use during that time period.
In the realm of mythology, Lela was also the name of a nymph who was said to be the daughter of the river god Alpheus. According to Greek legends, she was pursued by the god Dionysus, but was eventually transformed into a spring to escape his advances.
During the Byzantine era, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the name Lela continued to be used, particularly among Greek Christians. One notable figure from this period was Lela of Constantinople, a noblewoman who lived in the 9th century and was known for her philanthropic work and patronage of the arts.
As the name spread to other parts of Europe, it took on various spellings and variations. In the Middle Ages, the name Lela was sometimes spelled as "Laila" or "Leila" in certain regions, reflecting the influence of Arabic and Moorish culture on parts of Europe.
Throughout history, there have been several other notable figures who bore the name Lela. One example is Lela Margrid, a Norwegian painter and illustrator who lived from 1846 to 1920 and was known for her intricate works depicting nature and folklore.
Another prominent figure was Lela Amis, an American musician and singer who was born in 1899. She was a pioneering figure in the world of jazz and blues music, and her recordings from the 1920s and 1930s have been widely acclaimed and influential.
In the realm of literature, Lela Dore was an American author and poet who lived from 1906 to 1996. She was best known for her collections of poetry that explored themes of nature, love, and the human experience.
Lastly, Lela Lotos was a Greek actress and dancer who lived from 1905 to 1987. She was a prominent figure in the world of Greek cinema during the mid-20th century and was renowned for her performances in both dramatic and comedic roles.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Lela
People
Lela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lela 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
Lela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11,134 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lela 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 30,784 US residents.
Is Lela a common name?
We classify Lela as "Uncommon". It ranks above 97.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 42,994 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lela most popular?
The single biggest year for Lela was 1921, when 907 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lela is about 51 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lela a female name?
Yes, 99.8% of people registered as Lela 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.