Pamalla
A feminine name derived from the Greek word "pammelano" meaning "completely black."
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Pamalla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pamalla today is around 80 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pamalla births was 1947 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pamalla. 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 Pamalla is about 80 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Pamallas were born before 1956.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Pamalla. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1947
7 babies that year
Average age
80
years old
1952 SSA rank
#6,192
Tracked since 1944
Popularity
Pamalla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pamalla from the 1940s through to the 1950s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 18 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pamalla 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 Pamalla 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 Pamalla
The given name Pamalla is of ancient origin, tracing its roots back to the Sanskrit language of the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have emerged during the Vedic period, around the 2nd millennium BCE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "pamala," which means "lotus flower" or "pure."
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Pamalla can be found in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph or apsara. In Hindu mythology, apsaras were known for their beauty, grace, and skill in the art of dance and music.
During the medieval period, the name Pamalla gained popularity in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions of modern-day India and Nepal. Historical records from this era mention several notable individuals bearing this name.
One such individual was Pamalla Devi, a 10th-century Hindu queen who ruled the Kalachuri dynasty in central India. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her efforts in promoting the construction of temples and other architectural marvels.
Another notable figure was Pamalla Bhatt, a 12th-century Sanskrit scholar and grammarian from the Kashmir region. He authored several influential works on Sanskrit grammar and poetics, which were widely studied and referenced by scholars of his time.
In the 16th century, the name Pamalla was associated with Pamalla Dasa, a celebrated poet and saint from the Vaishnava tradition in South India. His devotional compositions, known as "Pamalla Kirtanas," were widely acclaimed and continue to be sung in temples and spiritual gatherings to this day.
Moving forward in history, the 18th century saw the rise of Pamalla Raya, a prominent military leader from the Maratha Empire in western India. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Maratha territories and is remembered for his strategic acumen and bravery on the battlefield.
While the name Pamalla has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, it has also been adopted and adapted in various cultures and regions around the world over the centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural exchange and migration patterns throughout human history.
People
Pamalla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pamalla as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Pamalla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pamalla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pamalla 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Pamalla a common name?
We classify Pamalla as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 23 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pamalla most popular?
The single biggest year for Pamalla was 1947, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pamalla is about 80 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pamalla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pamalla 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.