Given name
Anela
“a messenger of heaven; an angel”
Anela is used as a given name. One Hawaiian interpretation is “a messenger of heaven; an angel.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hawaiian interpretation is “a messenger of heaven; an angel.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hawaiian.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1959. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Anela through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,793
- 0 boys · 1,793 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 79 babies
- 2025
- 58
- #2,903 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +30%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 58 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,903 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 29.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 79 in 2007. In 2025, Hawaii had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (17). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,611 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Anela’s family of names
Anela has a related form in Anel. Anela has a related form in Anella. Anela has a related form in Anelle.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Anela, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ani
“one who is very beautiful”
>99% girls
Alala
“resembling an endangered crow”
>99% girls
Makena
“one who is filled with happiness” · “man of abundance”
>99% girls
Lahela
“as innocent as a lamb”
>99% girls
Aolani
“cloud from heaven”
>99% girls
Malina
“a peaceful woman”
>99% girls
Malana
“a lighthearted woman”
>99% girls
Melia
Melia is a feminine given name. It is used in English, Asturian, and Hawaiian.
>99% girls