Rilla Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: RIL-uh //ˈrɪlə//
Origin: English; German
Meaning: English: a form of 'Rilla' from 'Arilla'; German: derived from 'Rilke' meaning 'to flow'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Rilla is believed to have originated as a diminutive form of the name Aurelia, which has Latin roots. Aurelia derives from the Latin word "aureus," meaning "golden." This connection to gold symbolizes beauty and value, contributing to the name's appeal.
The transition into English likely occurred through the influence of various European languages, particularly during the Renaissance when classical names were revived and adapted. Rilla may also be associated with the English word "rill," which refers to a small stream, adding a natural element to its interpretation.
Historically, the name Rilla gained some recognition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly through literature. One notable milestone is the character Rilla of Ingleside, the protagonist in the 1921 novel by Canadian author L.M.
Montgomery, part of the Anne of Green Gables series. This character, Rilla, is depicted as a strong and resilient young woman during World War I, which contributed to the name's association with courage and determination.
The novel has been influential in Canadian literature and has helped to shape cultural perceptions of the name. Culturally, Rilla embodies themes of strength and femininity, often resonating with those who appreciate literary connections.
The name's association with nature, through its phonetic similarity to "rill," adds a layer of charm and whimsy. While it may not have widespread historical significance like some other names, Rilla's literary roots and its etymological connections to beauty and nature contribute to its enduring appeal in various cultural contexts.
Fictional characters named Rilla
The following list of fictional characters named Rilla is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Rilla Blythe is a fictional character from the novel Rilla of Ingleside. She is the youngest daughter of Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe, navigating the challenges of World War I while maturing into adulthood.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rilla, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rilla. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Rilla was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Rilla has ranked as high as #697 nationally, which occurred in 1914, and has been most popular in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, California, and Mississippi.
In the past 5 years the name Rilla has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Rilla is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rilla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Rilla (1951)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rilla.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1978 | 6 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1974 | 7 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1968 | 6 |
| 1967 | 8 |
| 1965 | 8 |
| 1964 | 13 |
| 1963 | 10 |
| 1962 | 6 |
| 1961 | 12 |
| 1960 | 9 |
| 1959 | 11 |
| 1958 | 21 |
| 1957 | 7 |
| 1956 | 15 |
| 1955 | 24 |
| 1954 | 15 |
| 1953 | 22 |
| 1952 | 19 |
| 1951 | 31 |
| 1950 | 10 |
| 1949 | 24 |
| 1948 | 17 |
| 1947 | 30 |
| 1946 | 36 |
| 1945 | 23 |
| 1944 | 27 |
| 1943 | 31 |
| 1942 | 32 |
| 1941 | 31 |
| 1940 | 32 |
| 1939 | 32 |
| 1938 | 30 |
| 1937 | 39 |
| 1936 | 28 |
| 1935 | 27 |
| 1934 | 27 |
| 1933 | 36 |
| 1932 | 39 |
| 1931 | 30 |
| 1930 | 31 |
| 1929 | 40 |
| 1928 | 34 |
| 1927 | 41 |
| 1926 | 22 |
| 1925 | 42 |
| 1924 | 42 |
| 1923 | 39 |
| 1922 | 36 |
| 1921 | 30 |
| 1920 | 53 |
| 1919 | 45 |
| 1918 | 46 |
| 1917 | 43 |
| 1916 | 48 |
| 1915 | 44 |
| 1914 | 56 |
| 1913 | 18 |
| 1912 | 25 |
| 1911 | 31 |
| 1910 | 25 |
| 1909 | 24 |
| 1908 | 29 |
| 1907 | 21 |
| 1906 | 16 |
| 1905 | 25 |
| 1904 | 27 |
| 1903 | 22 |
| 1902 | 32 |
| 1901 | 30 |
| 1900 | 45 |
| 1899 | 30 |
| 1898 | 35 |
| 1897 | 34 |
| 1896 | 28 |
| 1895 | 40 |
| 1894 | 29 |
| 1893 | 45 |
| 1892 | 38 |
| 1891 | 35 |
| 1890 | 32 |
| 1889 | 27 |
| 1888 | 26 |
| 1887 | 25 |
| 1886 | 31 |
| 1885 | 30 |
| 1884 | 25 |
| 1883 | 23 |
| 1882 | 19 |
| 1881 | 21 |
| 1880 | 17 |