girl's name
Della
DEL-uh (English)
- Origin English
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 71,793
the United States
#563
2025 births
Della has no single parent — it shortens Adela, Delia and Adelaide alike, and it is reviving, at 563rd in the United States and 1,010th in Scotland. It holds 71,793 lifetime births on record.
- Della is a name of English origin.
- Peaked in 1917, when 1,198 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 6,220 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Della Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5,054 |
| 1890s | 6,420 |
| 1900s | 5,964 |
| 1910s | 9,481 |
| 1920s | 10,423 |
| 1930s | 7,972 |
| 1940s | 6,365 |
| 1950s | 6,038 |
| 1960s | 4,583 |
| 1970s | 1,804 |
| 1980s | 814 |
| 1990s | 512 |
| 2000s | 719 |
| 2010s | 2,156 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,644 |
What Della Means
Della means noble through Adela, or from Delos through Delia. The parent names are unrelated and the short form does not distinguish between them. The sense passes into the modern name unchanged.
Where Della Comes From
Della is a pet form without a fixed parent. Adela and Adelaide are Germanic, built on adal, noble. Delia is Greek, meaning of Delos — an epithet of Artemis, who was born there. A third route runs through Italian names in della, meaning of the, which is a preposition rather than a name. English took the syllable and left the question open, which is why sources disagree.
Della in Use
Della peaked in the United States in 1917, when 1,198 babies were registered, and it is reviving. It now ranks 563rd in the United States on 533 births, 1,010th in Scotland and 1,106th in England and Wales on 32, across 71,793 lifetime births in four markets. It is one of eight reviving names in this group.
How Popular Is Della?
In 2025, Della was given to 533 babies in the United States, ranking #563 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Della Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Della
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Della Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Della over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Della
- English DEL-uh /ˈdɛl.ə/
Della in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Della
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Della — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Della
What does the name Della mean?
Noble through Adela, or of Delos through Delia. The parents are unrelated.
What is Della short for?
Adela, Adelaide or Delia — and it stands on its own too.
What does Delia mean?
Of Delos, an epithet of Artemis, who was born on the island.
Is Della coming back?
It is reviving, at 563rd in the United States.
How popular is the name Della?
In 2025, Della was given to 533 babies in the United States, ranking #563 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Della a girl's or a boy's name?
Della is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Della?
Della has 2 syllables.
When was Della most popular?
Della peaked in 1917, when 1,198 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Della a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Della currently ranks #563 in the United States. After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.