Holding steady.
Popularity of Capitola since 1882
Babies named Capitola per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Capitola's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 47 |
| 1890s | 50 |
| 1900s | 91 |
| 1910s | 212 |
| 1920s | 132 |
| 1930s | 30 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 6 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Capitola is a name of literary origin, first appearing as the bold young protagonist of E.D.E.N. Southworth's 1856 novel The Hidden Hand. Its meaning is uncertain, but it likely evokes Italian or classical imagery. The name enjoyed a brief period of real-world use in the United States, with its first recorded occurrence in 1882 and a peak in popularity in 1884. However, it never ranked among the top 1000 names and has since become exceedingly rare, with no recent recorded usage in 2025. The name's trajectory is stable in the sense that it has remained consistently uncommon rather than experiencing a revival. Its top states are absent from the data, suggesting usage was scattered rather than concentrated regionally. Despite its obscurity, Capitola carries a distinctive, adventurous charm that appeals to those drawn to Victorian-era literary names and vintage Americana.
The name Capitola first appears in popular fiction as the heroine of E.D.E.N. Southworth's 1856 novel 'The Hidden Hand, or Capitola the Madcap.' The author likely invented the name, possibly drawing inspiration from the Italian island of Capri or the Latin 'Capitolium' (the Capitoline Hill in Rome), as the character is spirited and adventurous. Despite its literary origin, the name saw modest real-world use in the United States during the late 19th century, particularly in the 1880s and 1890s, before fading from common use.
Sibling names for Capitola
Names that share Capitola's style, for a brother or sister.
