Given name & surname
Rilla
“from the small brook”
Rilla is used as a given name and a surname. One German interpretation is “from the small brook.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One German interpretation is “from the small brook.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is German.
How it developed
In English usage, Rilla is a diminutive of Marilla.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Rilla through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,659
- 0 boys · 2,659 girls
- Most popular year
- 1914
- 56 babies
- 2025
- 7
- #12,912 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +18%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 7 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 12,912 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 17.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 56 in 1914. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 722 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.
Rilla’s family of names
In English usage, Rilla is a diminutive of Marilla. Rilla has a related form in Rillah. Rilla has a related form in Rille.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 10
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Marillafull form · English
- Rilleyvariant
- Rillievariant
- Rilliavariant
- Rillyvariant
- Rilleavariant
- Rillevariant
- Rillettevariant
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Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Rilla, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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