Tekla

♀ Girl

Pronounced TEK-luh /ˈtɛk.lə/Medium

Meaning: Tekla is the Scandinavian, Slavic and Hungarian form of Thecla, from Greek theos, 'God', and kleos, 'glory', giving 'glory of God'. It honors Saint Thecla, an early Christian follower of Paul.Low

In 30 seconds: Tekla is a Scandinavian form of Thecla, from Greek for 'glory of God', honoring an early saint. Rare, said TEK-luh.

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Origin LowGreek, Scandinavian

MeaningTekla is the Scandinavian, Slavic and Hungarian form of Thecla, from Greek theos, 'God', and kleos, 'glory', giving 'glory of God'. It honors Saint Thecla, an early Christian follower of Paul.

U.S. rank (2022)#13442 ↘ Falling

2022 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1916

Total births (all-time)≈ 461

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Tekla is the northern European and Slavic form of Thecla, joining the Greek theos, 'God', and kleos, 'glory', for 'glory of God'. The name honors Saint Thecla, a first-century follower of the apostle Paul and one of the earliest revered Christian women, and it arrived in America chiefly through Scandinavian and Central European immigrants.

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year around its 1916 peak, borne mostly in immigrant families. A Tekla would be of great-grandparent age now, and the name stays a devout heritage choice more than a fashionable one.

Did you know? Saint Thecla was one of the most venerated early Christian women, and her name spread across Europe as Thekla, Tecla and Tekla, reaching America with immigrant families.

Overall data confidence 48%

References - Tekla — Scandinavian/Slavic form of Thecla (Greek theos + kleos); Saint Thecla

Variations

TheclaTheklaTecla

Nicknames

TekTekie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tekla…

Thecla— the classic form of the name

Greta— another Scandinavian heritage name

Alma— a similar short old-world name

Olla— lands in the same popularity range

Dorla— shares the -la ending

Explore names like Tekla

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tekla mean?

It is a form of Thecla, from Greek words meaning 'glory of God'.

How do you pronounce Tekla?

It is said TEK-luh /ˈtɛk.lə/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Tekla a boy or girl name?

Tekla is used as a girl's name.

Is Tekla a popular name?

No, it was always rare, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the nineteen-tens.