Given name & surname
Ala
“noble”·“kind”·“type”
Ala connects to the Alice name family through Alicja. Alice’s older Germanic elements mean “noble” and “kind” or “type.” The connection with nobility belongs to the name’s linguistic roots.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ala connects to the Alice name family through Alicja. Alice’s older Germanic elements mean “noble” and “kind” or “type.” The connection with nobility belongs to the name’s linguistic roots.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Ala connects to the Alice name family through Alicja. Alice developed through Old French from Adalheidis, the Germanic name also behind Adelaide.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Polish use, Ala is used as an affectionate form of Alicja. Ala connects to the Alice name family through Alicja. The shared background comes through Alice: The longer Adalheidis was greatly shortened before reaching its Old French form. Alice and Adelaide therefore share an older source, even though they became distinct names.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1889. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Ala connects to the Alice name family through Alicja. The history of Alice gives this family its wider story. Alice returned to wider use in the nineteenth century. Lewis Carroll’s two Alice stories gave it an enduring literary association; his heroine drew inspiration from Alice Liddell.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Ala through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 943
- 142 boys · 801 girls
- Most popular year
- 1992
- 27 babies
- 2025
- 21
- #5,732 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −8%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 21 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,732 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 8.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 24 in 2017. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,046 as a first name in 2020; 859 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ala’s family of names
In Polish usage, Ala is a diminutive of Alina. In Polish usage, Ala is a shortened form of Alicja. In Polish usage, Ala is a shortened form of Alina.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Ala has relatives in 4 languages.
6 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Ala
- Alla TsuperUkrainian & Belarusian freestyle skier, Olympic championborn 1979
- Ala NemerencoMoldovan physician and politicianborn 1959
- Ala ZoghlamiItalian athletics competitorborn 1994
- Alla KlioukaSoviet and Russian actressborn 1970
- Ala Talabanipoliticianborn 1964
- Ala BoratynPolish singerborn 1992
- Ala Al-OthmaniTunisian sports shooterborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ala, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Alesha
“noble” · “kind”
>99% girls
Alysia
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Alecia
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Alyse
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Randa
“one who is worthy of admiration”
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Alissa
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Alisse
“noble” · “kind”
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Allyce
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