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Erla
How to Pronounce Erla
Pronounced UR-luh /ΛΙr.lΙ/Medium
Meaning: Erla is a compact American name, most plausibly a short form of Erline or a reshaping of Myrla/Verla. It is separately a genuine Icelandic girl's name meaning 'she-eagle', though most U.S. Erlas belong to the early-1900s vogue for short -la names.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Erla reads for American families as a short form of Erline or a cousin of Myrla and Verla, fitting the early-twentieth-century taste for trim -la names. In Iceland it stands on its own, meaning 'she-eagle' β a separate thread we note.
Its faint U.S. high point came around 1924, and it lingered in small numbers into recent decades. Only a few dozen girls a year ever carried it here.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Erla mean?
Erla is a short form of Erline or Myrla; separately it is an Icelandic name meaning 'she-eagle'.
How do you pronounce Erla?
It's said UR-luh /ΛΙr.lΙ/ β two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Erla a boy or girl name?
Erla is used as a girl's name, both as a short vintage form and as an Icelandic name.
How popular is Erla?
Erla has always been rare in the U.S., a short vintage name most seen in the early twentieth century.