Holding steady.
Popularity of Kela since 1950
Babies named Kela per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1994, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kela's real moment was 1975.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 18 |
| 1960s | 67 |
| 1970s | 211 |
| 1980s | 211 |
| 1990s | 239 |
| 2000s | 140 |
| 2010s | 15 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kela is a rare American name that first appeared in 1950. It peaked in 1975, when it saw its highest usage, though even then it remained uncommon. Over the last 75 years, its trajectory has been stable, with a handful of births each year never reaching the national top 1000. The name's meaning is uncertain, and it is best categorized as a modern English invention, possibly a variant of Keila or Kaela. Its gentle sound and short length fit a style of names from the 1970s that remains appealing today.
Kela is likely a modern coinage, possibly derived as a variant of Keila or a feminine form of names like Kael. It emerged in the United States in the mid-20th century and has seen occasional use since the 1950s. Its exact derivation is unclear, but it fits a pattern of short, melodic names ending in '-a' that became popular in the latter half of the 1900s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kiki, Kay
Sibling names for Kela
Names that share Kela's style, for a brother or sister.
