Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Thela isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1918. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Thela through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 51
- 0 boys · 51 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 7 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 1955. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 101 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.
Thela’s family of names
In Greek usage, Thela as a surname is a transliteration of Θέλα.
The ring: spellings.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Thela, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Thelma
“one who is ambitious and willful”
>99% girls
Thora
“thunder”
>99% girls
Vela
“a dark-skinned beauty”
>99% girls
Vella
“a dark-skinned beauty”
>99% girls
Elma
“having God's protection”
>99% girls
Lilla
Lilla is a variant of Lily. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.”
>99% girls
Ola
“one who is precious” · “giver of life: well-being”
>99% girls
Elda
“a battlemaiden; a protector”
>99% girls