Thela
An African name meaning "to get firmly established".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Thela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Thela today is around 77 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Thela births was 1918 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Thela. 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 Thela is about 77 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Thelas were born before 1959.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Thela. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1918
7 babies that year
Average age
77
years old
1955 SSA rank
#6,643
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Thela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Thela from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 19 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
Thela 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 Thela 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 Thela
The name Thela has its origins in ancient Greek culture, where it was derived from the word "thelein," meaning "to desire" or "to will." This name gained prominence during the classical period of ancient Greece, spanning from the 5th to the 4th centuries BCE.
Thela first appeared in historical records as the name of a prominent Athenian philosopher and physician who lived around 420 BCE. He was known for his teachings on the importance of moderation and balance in all aspects of life, including physical and mental well-being.
One of the earliest known references to the name Thela can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who documented the life of a Spartan warrior bearing this name. This warrior was renowned for his bravery and valor during the Peloponnesian War, which took place between 431 and 404 BCE.
In the realm of ancient Greek mythology, Thela was the name of a nymph who was believed to be a companion of the goddess Artemis. She was often depicted as a skilled huntress and a protector of the natural world, symbolizing the connection between humanity and the forces of nature.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Thela. One such figure was Thela of Lemnos (c. 640-570 BCE), a renowned ancient Greek poet known for her lyrical compositions and her contributions to the development of choral poetry.
Another prominent figure was Thela of Miletus (c. 500 BCE), a philosopher and mathematician who is credited with being one of the first individuals to propose the concept of an infinite and eternal universe.
During the Byzantine era, Thela was the name of a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 9th century CE. She was known for her extensive knowledge of ancient Greek literature and her contributions to the preservation and study of classical texts.
In more recent times, Thela Keatswa (1913-2000) was a South African activist and leader who played a significant role in the anti-apartheid movement. She dedicated her life to fighting for racial equality and social justice, becoming a prominent figure in the struggle against the oppressive regime.
Thela has also been the name of several literary characters, including the protagonist of the novel "The Thela Cycle" by the acclaimed Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, published in 1938. This work explored themes of human nature, spirituality, and the pursuit of freedom.
People
Thela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Thela as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Thela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Thela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Thela 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Thela a common name?
We classify Thela as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 51 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Thela most popular?
The single biggest year for Thela was 1918, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Thela is about 77 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Thela a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Thela 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.