Given name & surname
Vella
“a dark-skinned beauty”
Vella is a variant of Velanie. In American use, Velanie carries the interpretation “a dark-skinned beauty.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Vella is a variant of Velanie. In American use, Velanie carries the interpretation “a dark-skinned beauty.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Vella connects to the Melanie name family through Velanie. Melanie has been associated with Old French, Latin, and Greek naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Vella through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,283
- 0 boys · 2,283 girls
- Most popular year
- 1915
- 53 babies
- 2025
- 27
- #4,977 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 27 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,977 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 1.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 835 as a first name in 2020; 3,795 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.
Vella’s family of names
Vella has a related form in Velanie. In Greek usage, Vella is a transliteration of Βέλλα.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Vella
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Vella, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Velma
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Velva
>99% girls
Veta
>99% girls
Lelah
“a beauty of the night; born at nightfall”
>99% girls
Verla
Verla is a surname. It is used in Italian.
>99% girls
Eda
Eda is a variant of Edith. One English interpretation is “the spoils of war; one who is joyous; a treasure.”
>99% girls
Vena
“from the wine country; from Vienna”
>99% girls
Elda
“a battlemaiden; a protector”
>99% girls