Holding steady.
Popularity of Tecla since 1907
Babies named Tecla per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Tecla's real moment was 1907.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 48 |
| 1920s | 37 |
| 1930s | 13 |
| 1940s | 20 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Tecla is a name that hovers at the edges of recorded history in the United States. According to Social Security data, it made its first and only appearance in the national birth records in 1907, the name's peak year. Despite its long history in European cultures, primarily Italian and Spanish, Tecla never achieved mainstream popularity in the U.S. The trajectory has remained stable at near-zero usage, and no births have been recorded in recent years, making it a genuine rarity. While the name's etymology is somewhat uncertain, it is widely believed to be a Romance form of the Greek Thekla, meaning 'glory of God', a meaning that connects it to early Christian tradition. Parents seeking a truly distinctive name with deep historical roots might consider Tecla, though they should be aware that it may be unfamiliar to many.
Tecla is most commonly considered a Romance form of the Greek name Thekla (Θέκλα), which is derived from the Greek words 'theos' (god) and 'kleos' (glory), thus 'glory of God'. The name was borne by a 1st-century Christian saint, Saint Thekla, a follower of Paul the Apostle. In Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese traditions, Tecla emerged as a localized variant, sometimes also associated with the Germanic name Tecle. The name never achieved widespread popularity, remaining a rare but enduring choice in parts of Europe.
Sibling names for Tecla
Names that share Tecla's style, for a brother or sister.
