Vennela
A feminine name derived from the Telugu word meaning "moonlight".
Name Census estimates that about 84 living Americans carry the first name Vennela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Vennela today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vennela births was 2008 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vennela. 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 Vennela. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
84
~ 1 in 4,080,409 Americans
Peak year
2008
11 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#15,081
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Vennela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vennela from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 46 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Vennela remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vennela 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 Vennela 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 Vennela
The name Vennela is a feminine name of Indian origin, specifically from the Telugu language spoken in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Its roots can be traced back to the Sanskrit word "venu," which means bamboo or flute, and "nela," which translates to ground or earth. The name thus holds a poetic and natural meaning, suggesting a connection with nature's beauty and tranquility.
In ancient Hindu mythology, the bamboo flute is closely associated with Lord Krishna, the beloved deity revered for his divine love and teachings. The flute symbolizes the call of the divine, inviting devotees to embark on a spiritual journey towards enlightenment. As such, the name Vennela may have been given to children as a way of invoking blessings and guidance from the divine realm.
One of the earliest records of the name Vennela can be found in Telugu literature dating back to the 16th century. A prominent figure bearing this name was Vennela Ramalinga Nayakudu, a poet and scholar who lived during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. His literary works, including the famous "Vennela Somayajulu Satakamu," are celebrated for their linguistic prowess and philosophical insights.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Vennela. Vennela Kishore (1936-2010) was a renowned Indian actress who graced the Telugu and Tamil film industries with her talented performances. Vennela Kishore Babu (born 1984) is a popular Telugu comedian and actor known for his impeccable comic timing and versatility on screen.
Vennela Rao (1950-2008) was an esteemed Telugu writer and scholar whose contributions to literature and language preservation earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1994. Vennela Rani (born 1988) is a contemporary Indian actress and model who has appeared in various Telugu and Tamil films, showcasing her talent and grace on the silver screen.
Vennela Monisha (born 1992) is a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer, known for her mastery of the Kuchipudi dance form. Her performances have captivated audiences across the globe, earning her recognition as a cultural ambassador for India's rich artistic heritage.
People
Vennela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vennela 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
Vennela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vennela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 84 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vennela 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 4,080,409 US residents.
Is Vennela a common name?
We classify Vennela as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 85 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vennela most popular?
The single biggest year for Vennela was 2008, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vennela is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Vennela a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vennela 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.