A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Dela since 1888
Babies named Dela per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2025, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dela's real moment was 1888.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 12 |
| 1910s | 49 |
| 1920s | 70 |
| 1930s | 31 |
| 1940s | 27 |
| 1950s | 65 |
| 1960s | 56 |
| 1970s | 43 |
| 1980s | 16 |
| 1990s | 35 |
| 2000s | 23 |
| 2010s | 47 |
| 2020s | 81 |
Meaning & origin
Dela first appeared in U.S. records in 1888, when it peaked in rank at 6,116th. After decades of scarce use, it has been rising slowly since 2006, with a rank of 6,116 and a frequency of 1 in 84,593 births in 2025. Though it never achieved widespread popularity, its revival suggests a modern appreciation for short, vintage-sounding names. Dela's top states in its peak year of 1888 are not specified in the data, but its overall trajectory shows a steady climb among parents seeking simple, feminine names with an old-fashioned charm.
Dela may have multiple origins. It could be a short form of names such as Adela (from Germanic 'adal', meaning 'noble') or Cordelia (of uncertain meaning, possibly 'daughter of the sea' or 'jewel of the sea'). Alternatively, it may derive from the Latin 'deliciae', meaning 'delight'. As an independent given name, Dela appears in English-speaking countries since the 19th century, often as a diminutive for longer names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Delly, Lala
Sibling names for Dela
Names that share Dela's style, for a brother or sister.
