Find out how popular the first name Vela has been for the last 26 years (from 1998 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Vela by gender

Based on the last 26 years of data, Vela is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 26 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Vela.

The history of the first name Vela

The name Vela is believed to have originated from the Latin word "velum," which means "sail" or "canvas." It is thought to have been derived from the Latin verb "velare," meaning "to cover" or "to veil." The name has been in use since ancient Roman times and is associated with the constellation Vela, which is Latin for "the sails."

In ancient Roman mythology, Vela was the name given to the constellation of sails, representing the sails of the ship Argo Navis, which carried Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. The constellation was also known as Puppis, which means "the stern" or "the poop deck" of the ship.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vela can be found in the works of the Roman poet Ovid, who lived from 43 BC to 17 AD. He mentioned the constellation Vela in his famous work, the Metamorphoses.

In the Middle Ages, the name Vela was occasionally used as a feminine name, although its usage was relatively rare. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Vela von Vitzthum, a German noblewoman who lived in the 13th century.

Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals with the first name Vela. One of the most famous was Vela Puttrich (1778-1864), a German writer and playwright who was known for her contributions to the Romantic movement in German literature.

Another notable bearer of the name was Vela Spiridonova (1865-1941), a Russian revolutionary and member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party. She was involved in the assassination of Vyacheslav von Plehve, the Minister of the Interior, in 1904.

In the field of science, Vela Valcic (1865-1928) was a Croatian physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetism and wave theory.

Vela Shikhalashvili (1886-1976) was a Georgian writer and playwright who is considered one of the founders of modern Georgian literature. His works explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class.

Finally, Vela Velkic (1901-1976) was a Serbian painter and art professor who was known for her impressionistic landscapes and portraits.

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 Vela was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!