Thella
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly derived from the Greek word "thellos" meaning nipple.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Thella. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Thella today is around 91 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Thella births was 1914 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Thella. 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 Thella is about 91 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Thellas were born before 1945.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Thella. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1914
10 babies that year
Average age
91
years old
1934 SSA rank
#3,769
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Thella: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Thella from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 17 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thella 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 Thella 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 Thella
The name Thella has its origins in ancient Etruscan culture, dating back to around the 8th century BC. It is believed to be derived from the Etruscan word "thel," which means "to thrive" or "to flourish." The Etruscans were a highly advanced civilization that thrived in what is now modern-day Italy, particularly in the region of Tuscany.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thella can be found in an Etruscan inscription from the 6th century BC, which mentions a woman named Thella Velcia, who was likely a prominent figure in her community. The name also appears in various Etruscan texts and records, suggesting its widespread use among the Etruscan people.
During the Roman period, the name Thella was adopted and adapted by the Romans, who admired and were influenced by Etruscan culture. In fact, one of the earliest known Romans to bear the name was Thella Cornelia, a noblewoman who lived in the 2nd century BC. She was renowned for her intellectual pursuits and patronage of the arts.
In the Middle Ages, the name Thella experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Italy. One notable figure was Thella di Monferrato, a 12th-century noblewoman who played a significant role in the political affairs of the Monferrato region.
The Renaissance period also saw several notable individuals bearing the name Thella. One of the most famous was Thella Taurelli, an Italian humanist and poet who lived in the 15th century. Her works were widely admired and studied by scholars of the time.
Another notable figure was Thella Pico della Mirandola, a 16th-century Italian philosopher and writer who was part of the influential Pico della Mirandola family. She was known for her contributions to the ongoing intellectual and cultural debates of the Renaissance era.
In more recent times, the name Thella has remained relatively uncommon, though it has been used sporadically throughout various regions of Italy and other parts of Europe. While not as widely known as some other names, Thella has a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries and reflects the cultural influences of the ancient Etruscans and the enduring legacy of Italian civilization.
People
Thella + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Thella 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
Thella: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Thella?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Thella 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Thella a common name?
We classify Thella as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 43 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Thella most popular?
The single biggest year for Thella was 1914, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Thella is about 91 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 Thella in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Thella a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Thella 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 Thella still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Thella 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 Thella 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 share the name Thella?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.