Vela

♀ Girl

Pronounced VEH-lah /ˈvɛ.lɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Latin vela, 'the sails' — a southern constellation; also Spanish vela, 'a candle, a sail, a vigil'Medium

In 30 seconds: The sails: Vela is the southern constellation — 'the sails'. Lyrical, celestial, and warm (said 'VEH-lah').

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Origin MediumLatin, Spanish

MeaningFrom Latin vela, 'the sails' — a southern constellation; also Spanish vela, 'a candle, a sail, a vigil'

U.S. rank (2025)#6813 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births17 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1915

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,082

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

Vela comes from Latin vela, 'the sails' — the name of a southern constellation (once part of the vast constellation Argo Navis, the ship of the Argonauts) — and from Spanish vela, 'a candle, a sail, a vigil, a watch'. A lyrical, celestial, modern name (said 'VEH-lah'; nickname Vel).

It registers thinly in records. Rare, the-sails at the root, and celestial.

Did you know? Vela means 'the sails' in Latin — a southern constellation, once part of the great ship Argo — and 'a candle, a sail, a vigil' in Spanish — a lyrical, celestial name (said 'VEH-lah').

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Vela — constellation/word

Variations

VellaVelah

Nicknames

Vel

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Vela…

Nova— a fellow celestial girls' name

Stella— a companion 'star' girls' name

Lyra— another constellation girls' name

Carina— a fellow southern-constellation girls' name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Vela mean?

Vela is Latin for 'the sails' (a southern constellation), and Spanish for 'a candle, a sail'.

How do you pronounce Vela?

It's said VEH-lah /ˈvɛ.lɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Vela a boy or girl name?

Vela is a girl's name.

How popular is Vela?

Vela is a very rare name in the U.S.