Holding steady, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Rilla since 1880
Babies named Rilla per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1914, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Rilla's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 244 |
| 1890s | 346 |
| 1900s | 271 |
| 1910s | 381 |
| 1920s | 379 |
| 1930s | 319 |
| 1940s | 283 |
| 1950s | 175 |
| 1960s | 79 |
| 1970s | 23 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 68 |
| 2020s | 68 |
Meaning & origin
Rilla is a rare and elusive name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880. Its peak usage came the very next year, 1881, when it ranked highest in popularity, though even then it was uncommon. Over the decades, Rilla has maintained a stable but extremely low profile; it has never been a common choice. As of 2025, only about 1 in 229,610 newborns receives this name, indicating its persistent rarity. While it was used as the name of a character in a 1921 novel, the name predates that work. Rilla's origins remain uncertain, with possibilities including a diminutive of Marilla or a reference to a small stream (rill). It is a name that appeals to those seeking something truly unique.
Rilla first appeared in the United States in the 1880s, but its exact origin is unclear. It may have arisen as a short form of Marilla (a variant of Mary) or from the English word 'rill' meaning a small stream. It was featured as the name of a character in Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1921 novel 'Rilla of Ingleside', but the name predates that work. Its usage has remained very rare throughout history.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ril, Rilly
Sibling names for Rilla
Names that share Rilla's style, for a brother or sister.
