A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Orelia since 1887
Babies named Orelia per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Orelia's real moment was 1887.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 14 |
| 1890s | 62 |
| 1900s | 90 |
| 1910s | 153 |
| 1920s | 191 |
| 1930s | 130 |
| 1940s | 104 |
| 1950s | 96 |
| 1960s | 41 |
| 1970s | 39 |
| 1980s | 28 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 23 |
Meaning & origin
Orelia is a rare and delicate name with likely roots in the Latin Aurelia, meaning 'golden'. First recorded in 1887, it peaked that same year in popularity, reflecting a brief 19th-century interest in ornate feminine names. After nearly vanishing for decades, Orelia has seen a modest revival since 2020, fitting a trend toward vintage and melodic names ending in 'ia'. Only about 1 in 160,727 girls received the name in 2025, making it an uncommon choice that retains an air of distinction. Historically, no top states have shown significant usage, underscoring its rarity across the United States.
Orelia likely derives from the Latin name Aurelia, the feminine form of Aurelius, from aureus 'golden'. However, it may also be influenced by Slavic names such as Orel, meaning 'eagle' in several Slavic languages, or a variant of Oralia. The name appears in English records as early as the 19th century, with limited but persistent use.
“Orelia” around the world
Where Orelia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ora, Lee, Lia
Sibling names for Orelia
Names that share Orelia's style, for a brother or sister.
