Declining since 2000, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Alla since 1880
Babies named Alla per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1927, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Alla's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 31 |
| 1890s | 64 |
| 1900s | 80 |
| 1910s | 154 |
| 1920s | 208 |
| 1930s | 151 |
| 1940s | 72 |
| 1950s | 43 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 23 |
| 1990s | 107 |
| 2000s | 138 |
| 2010s | 76 |
| 2020s | 35 |
Meaning & origin
Alla is a name with multiple cultural layers, yet it remains exceptionally uncommon in modern America. First recorded in U.S. data in 1880, it reached its peak rank of 14,942 in 1881, when it was given to a handful of newborns. Since 2000, its trajectory has been falling, and today it is bestowed on fewer than 5 babies per year, making it a rare choice. The name's ambiguity in origin (Arabic, Russian, Scandinavian) adds to its mystique but also limits widespread familiarity. Its highest usage was in the 1880s, and it has never seen a revival. With no top states strongly associated, Alla remains a quietly eclectic option for parents drawn to short, vowel-initial names.
Alla has multiple possible origins. In Arabic, it can be a variant of Alia, meaning 'exalted' or 'sublime', or a component of names like Allah. In Russian, it is a diminutive of names such as Alla or a standalone name, possibly derived from the Norse name Ála. In Scandinavia, it is a short form of names like Alva or Alfhild. The name saw modest use in the United States in the late 19th century, particularly in the 1880s.
“Alla” around the world
Where Alla lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Alla
Names that share Alla's style, for a brother or sister.
