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Lella
How to Pronounce Lella
Pronounced LEL-ah /ΛlΙlΙ/Medium
Meaning: Lella is usually read as a variant of Lela and Leila. Leila comes from the Arabic 'layla', 'night', a name rich in poetry, while Lella and Lela also served as pet forms of names like Adela and Cordelia. The double-l spelling gives a soft, old-fashioned look.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
Lella reads as a variant of Lela and Leila. Through Leila it carries the Arabic 'layla', 'night'; as Lela it also worked as a pet form of names like Adela. The soft double-l spelling was quietly used in America from the late nineteenth century.
It never became common, appearing for only a few dozen girls a year across its long, thin span. It reads as a delicate vintage name whose exact source shifted between an Arabic root and a homegrown pet form.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Lella mean?
Lella is a variant of Lela and Leila, the latter from the Arabic 'layla', meaning 'night'.
How do you pronounce Lella?
It's said LEL-ah /ΛlΙlΙ/ - two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Lella a boy or girl name?
Lella is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Lella?
Lella has always been rare, a gentle vintage name tied to Lela and Leila.