Ela
Every Ela since 1887 — 2,846 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ela
Ela is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #1,562 in 2025 with 135 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1887, 2,846 American babies have been named Ela. Its peak came in 2018, when 150 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ela stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ela year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 135 | #1,562 |
| 2024 | 118 | #1,723 |
| 2023 | 110 | #1,828 |
| 2022 | 99 | #1,977 |
| 2021 | 118 | #1,743 |
| 2020 | 119 | #1,706 |
| 2019 | 136 | #1,573 |
| 2018 | 150 | #1,465 |
| 2017 | 115 | #1,805 |
| 2016 | 100 | #1,987 |
| 2015 | 99 | #2,000 |
| 2014 | 104 | #1,928 |
| 2013 | 98 | #1,993 |
| 2012 | 117 | #1,764 |
| 2011 | 116 | #1,759 |
| 2010 | 117 | #1,764 |
| 2009 | 100 | #2,047 |
| 2008 | 69 | #2,668 |
| 2007 | 73 | #2,546 |
| 2006 | 68 | #2,644 |
| 2005 | 78 | #2,301 |
| 2004 | 44 | #3,410 |
| 2003 | 44 | #3,310 |
| 2002 | 13 | #7,962 |
| 2001 | 18 | #6,148 |
| 2000 | 14 | #7,278 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12,220 |
| 1990 | 8 | #9,515 |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | 5 | #9,478 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | 5 | #6,630 |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | 7 | #3,503 |
| 1930 | 11 | #2,738 |
| 1925 | 9 | #3,449 |
| 1920 | 13 | #2,628 |
| 1915 | 9 | #2,963 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | 6 | #1,763 |
| 1900 | 7 | #1,617 |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Ela
- Ela Bhatt Social activist · b. 1933
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Ela in 2025?
Ela ranked #1,562 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 135 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ela?
2,846 babies have been named Ela in the United States since 1887, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ela most popular?
Ela peaked in 2018, when 150 newborns received the name.
Is Ela a boy or girl name?
Ela is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ela rising or falling?
Ela is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ela?
Well-known people named Ela include Ela Bhatt (social activist).