Holding steady.
Popularity of Camala since 1962
Babies named Camala per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 122 |
| 1970s | 46 |
| 1980s | 23 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Camala is a rare feminine name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1962, with a brief peak in popularity in 1963, after which it declined sharply. Despite its low usage, it has maintained a stable but minimal presence, never reaching a rank in the top 1,000 names. The name's obscurity and its similarity to the Sanskrit name Kamala have led to varied interpretations, but its modern coinage in the 1960s suggests it was likely created as a melodic variant rather than a direct borrowing. Its one-in-N statistic is not available due to its rarity, and it has no strong geographic concentration among top states.
Camala is likely a modern coinage, possibly derived as a variant of Camilla (Latin origin, meaning 'young ceremonial attendant') or Kamala (Sanskrit origin, meaning 'lotus'). Its emergence in the 1960s suggests it was formed by combining a familiar syllable with a fashionable 'a' ending, following the trend of feminine names like Tamala or Shamala. There is no established historical usage outside of the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cami, Mala
Sibling names for Camala
Names that share Camala's style, for a brother or sister.
