Pela first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Pela has been for the last 2 years (from 2009 to 2010) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Pela

A feminine variant of the Slavic name Pelagia, signifying "high sea voyager".

Popularity of Pela by gender

Based on the last 2 years of data, Pela is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2010, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Pela.

Year Male Count Female Count
2010 0 5
2009 0 6

The history of the first name Pela

The name Pela has its roots in the ancient Greek language, where it originated as a shortened form of the name Pelargos, which translates to "stork." This name was commonly used during the Classical period of ancient Greece, spanning from the 5th to the 4th century BC.

Pela was a popular name among the aristocratic families of Athens and Sparta, two prominent city-states of ancient Greece. It is believed that the name was chosen as a symbol of good fortune and grace, as the stork was revered in Greek mythology for its association with fertility and new life.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pela can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who mentions a woman named Pela from the city of Argos. Additionally, the name appears in several ancient Greek inscriptions and archaeological artifacts, indicating its widespread use during that era.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pela. One of the most famous was Pela of Argos (c. 500 BC), a renowned Greek poetess whose works, unfortunately, have been lost to time. Another notable figure was Pela of Ephesus (c. 300 BC), a philosopher and student of the renowned Aristotle.

In the Middle Ages, the name Pela gained popularity among the Byzantine nobility. One prominent individual was Pela Kantakouzene (c. 1260 - 1330), a Byzantine princess and daughter of the Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.

During the Renaissance period, the name experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Italy. One notable figure from this era was Pela Strozzi (1472 - 1504), an Italian scholar and poet who was part of the renowned Strozzi family of Florence.

In more recent times, the name Pela has been less common, but it has still been used by a few notable individuals. One example is Pela Kulendran (1924 - 2008), a Sri Lankan lawyer and human rights activist who played a significant role in the country's independence movement.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Pela was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pela, please contact us.

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"Pela first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 12, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/pela-meaning-and-history/.

"Pela first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/pela-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 12 June, 2025

Pela first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/pela-meaning-and-history/.

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