Imela

♀ Girl

Pronounced ih-MEL-uh /ɪˈmɛl.ə/Medium

Meaning: From Igbo imela, an everyday expression of thanks and praise - 'thank you,' or 'well done.' It belongs to a wide Igbo habit of drawing names from ordinary speech, gratitude and blessing.Low

In 30 seconds: A gratitude name: Imela is Igbo for 'thank you, well done' (said 'ih-MEL-uh'). Warm and everyday.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumIgbo

MeaningFrom Igbo imela, an everyday expression of thanks and praise - 'thank you,' or 'well done.' It belongs to a wide Igbo habit of drawing names from ordinary speech, gratitude and blessing.

U.S. rank (2019)#14473 ↘ Falling

2019 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 13

History & Origin

Imela comes from Igbo, spoken across southeastern Nigeria, where it means 'thank you' or 'well done.' Igbo naming draws heavily on gratitude and blessing, and names built from ordinary spoken phrases are common - a child's name can be a small sentence of thanks. Imela travels easily into English, where it reads soft and melodic (said 'ih-MEL-uh').

In the U.S. it appears only in very small numbers. Rare here, at home in Igbo communities.

Did you know? Imela is a phrase Igbo speakers use daily - 'thank you,' or 'well done' - and like many Igbo names it carries that everyday warmth straight into a child's name.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Imela — Igbo imela 'thank you, well done'; Nigerian Igbo naming

Variations

ImeleEmelaImelda

Nicknames

ImeMela

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Imela…

Chidinma— a like Igbo blessing name

Amara— a like Igbo grace name

Imelda— a near-twin in sound

Chizaram— lands in the same popularity range

Chizara— another Igbo name

Explore names like Imela

By themeword-name nigerian igbo gratitude

By meaningGift / Blessing

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Imela mean?

Imela is an Igbo name and phrase meaning 'thank you' or 'well done,' from southeastern Nigeria.

How do you pronounce Imela?

It's said ih-MEL-uh /ɪˈmɛl.ə/ - three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Imela a boy or girl name?

Imela is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Imela?

Imela is extremely rare in the U.S.