Velita
A feminine diminutive of the Spanish name Vela, meaning "little candle".
Name Census estimates that about 74 living Americans carry the first name Velita. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Velita today is around 64 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Velita births was 1968 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Velita. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Velita. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
74
~ 1 in 4,631,815 Americans
Peak year
1968
12 babies that year
Average age
64
years old
1973 SSA rank
#9,750
Tracked since 1947
Popularity
Velita: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Velita from the 1940s through to the 1970s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 52 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Velita 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 Velita 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 Velita
The name Velita is a diminutive form of the Spanish name Vela, derived from the Latin word "vela" meaning "sail" or "canvas." It is primarily associated with the Spanish and Portuguese cultures, although its precise origins and the time period in which it first emerged are unclear. The name likely originated as a nickname or term of endearment, reflecting its diminutive nature.
Historically, the name Velita does not appear to have been extensively documented in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, some records suggest that variations of the name, such as Vela, were used in the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. These names may have been inspired by nautical or seafaring connections, given the maritime traditions of the region.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Velita was Velita de Silva, a Portuguese noblewoman who lived in the 16th century. She was known for her dedication to charitable works and her involvement in various religious and philanthropic endeavors.
Another notable figure was Velita Grinnell, an American educator and activist born in 1824. She was a prominent advocate for women's rights and played a significant role in the early suffrage movement in the United States.
In the realm of literature, Velita Cabrera was a Chilean poet and writer who lived from 1893 to 1979. Her works explored themes of nature, love, and the human experience, and she was celebrated for her lyrical style and evocative imagery.
Velita Thompkins, born in 1910, was an influential African American community leader and civil rights activist. She dedicated her life to promoting equal rights and advocating for educational and economic opportunities for marginalized communities.
Furthermore, Velita Rodríguez was a renowned Cuban prima ballerina assoluta who graced the stages of the early 20th century. Born in 1902, she was celebrated for her technical mastery and her ability to captivate audiences with her emotive performances.
While these are just a few examples, the name Velita has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds and eras, each leaving their unique mark on history through their contributions and accomplishments.
People
Velita + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Velita as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Velita: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Velita?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 74 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Velita 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 4,631,815 US residents.
Is Velita a common name?
We classify Velita as "Very Rare". It ranks above 60.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 96 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Velita most popular?
The single biggest year for Velita was 1968, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Velita is about 64 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Velita a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Velita 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.