Orilla
Of Spanish origin, meaning "shoreline" or "edge" of land or water.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Orilla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Orilla today is around 104 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Orilla births was 1917 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Orilla. 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
- • The typical person named Orilla is about 104 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Orillas were born before 1932.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Orilla. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1917
16 babies that year
Average age
104
years old
1939 SSA rank
#3,703
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Orilla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Orilla from the 1880s through to the 1930s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 69 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Orilla remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Orilla 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 Orilla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Orilla
The given name Orilla has its roots in the Spanish language, originating from the word "orilla" which translates to "shore" or "bank." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with geographic locations near bodies of water or coastal regions in Spain or Spanish-speaking regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Orilla can be traced back to the 16th century in Spain. It is believed that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for individuals who lived or worked near the shores or banks of rivers or the sea.
In the 17th century, the name Orilla appeared in several historical records and documents in Spain, indicating its growing usage as a given name during that period. One notable individual from this time was Orilla de Sotomayor, a Spanish noblewoman born in 1621 who was known for her philanthropic efforts and support of local communities.
As Spanish exploration and colonization expanded throughout the Americas, the name Orilla likely spread to various regions, including parts of Central and South America. In the 18th century, there are records of individuals named Orilla in areas such as Mexico and Peru, reflecting the cultural influence of Spanish settlers.
One notable figure from this era was Orilla Ramírez, a Mexican artist born in 1745 who gained recognition for her intricate embroidery work and textile designs. Her creations were highly sought after by wealthy patrons and contributed to the preservation of traditional Mexican artistry.
In the 19th century, the name Orilla continued to be used across Spanish-speaking regions, with records showing individuals bearing this name in countries like Argentina, Colombia, and Cuba. One notable individual was Orilla García, a Cuban writer and journalist born in 1832, who was known for her influential essays and advocacy for women's rights and education.
As the name Orilla spread to different parts of the world, it also gained popularity in some non-Spanish-speaking regions, particularly among communities with Spanish cultural influences. For example, in the early 20th century, there are records of individuals named Orilla in parts of the southwestern United States, reflecting the influence of Spanish settlement and culture in that region.
Throughout history, the name Orilla has been associated with various professions and fields, from artists and writers to activists and community leaders. While not as widely used as some other Spanish names, Orilla has maintained a presence in various cultures and regions, carrying with it a connection to the natural beauty of coastal landscapes and the rich heritage of the Spanish language.
People
Orilla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Orilla as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Orilla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Orilla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Orilla 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Orilla a common name?
We classify Orilla as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 225 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Orilla most popular?
The single biggest year for Orilla was 1917, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Orilla is about 104 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Orilla in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Orilla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Orilla 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.
Is Orilla still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Orilla in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Orilla can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Orilla?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Orilla on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.