Della Girl

Popularity: #487 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DEL-uh //ˈdɛl.ə//

Origin: Italian; English

Meaning: Italian: noble; English: short form of Adela

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Della has its roots in the Italian name Adela, which is derived from the Germanic element "adal," meaning "noble." The name Adela made its way into Old French as "Adele" before being adapted into various forms across Europe. In the English-speaking world, Della emerged as a diminutive or variant of Adela, gaining traction in the 19th century as a standalone name.

The transition into English showcases the influence of both Italian and French linguistic traditions, reflecting the broader patterns of name adoption and adaptation during that period. Historically, the name Della can be associated with various notable figures and cultural milestones.

While not directly mentioned in biblical texts, the roots of its parent name Adela can be traced back to the medieval period, where names derived from noble lineage were common among European aristocracy. The name gained further recognition through literary works and the arts, particularly in the 19th century, when names reflecting nobility and elegance became fashionable.

This period saw the rise of romantic literature, where names like Della were often used to evoke a sense of grace and refinement. Culturally, Della carries connotations of nobility and dignity, resonating with the ideals of chivalry and virtue prevalent in medieval European society.

The name has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including literature and music, often symbolizing beauty and strength. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Dell have appeared in literature, further enriching the name's cultural tapestry.

Overall, Della's historical journey reflects a blend of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, marking its place in the lineage of names that celebrate noble heritage.

Famous people named Della

In this section, you will find notable people named Della. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Della who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Della who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Della Reese is a singer and actress best known for Touched by an Angel, Della, and The Twilight Zone.

Della Street is a fictional character in the Perry Mason series created by Erle Stanley Gardner.

Fictional characters named Della

The following list of fictional characters named Della 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.

Della Duck is a fictional character from the comic book series DuckTales. She is the mother of Huey, Dewey, and Louie and plays a significant role in their adventures.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Della, 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 Della. 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 Della was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Della has ranked as high as #283 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in Kentucky, North Carolina, California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Della has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Della 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 Della was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Della (2024)

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
OH 28
6%
CA 27
6%
IL 26
6%
TX 26
6%
PA 22
5%
IN 22
5%
TN 22
5%
MO 20
4%
NC 20
4%
FL 17
4%
GA 17
4%
KY 16
3%
WI 16
3%
UT 15
3%
MN 15
3%

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 Della.

YearBirths
2024518
2023453
2022449
2021405
2020284
2019339
2018314
2017252
2016248
2015217
2014194
2013164
2012174
2011120
2010133
2009115
200877
200768
200687
200578
200475
200368
200262
200144
200045
199950
199837
199742
199654
199553
199457
199349
199259
199155
199056
198979
198864
198762
198684
198559
198474
198390
198296
198198
1980108
1979115
1978119
1977180
1976145
1975165
1974165
1973173
1972204
1971247
1970291
1969291
1968324
1967326
1966369
1965389
1964469
1963535
1962520
1961615
1960745
1959676
1958663
1957538
1956542
1955590
1954591
1953550
1952614
1951654
1950620
1949574
1948611
1947732
1946588
1945532
1944636
1943681
1942681
1941673
1940650
1939680
1938748
1937787
1936721
1935774
1934796
1933850
1932844
1931863
1930887
1929866
1928897
1927946
19261,009
19251,028
19241,050
19231,125
19221,155
19211,153
19201,137
19191,190
19181,162
19171,192
19161,172
19151,086
1914879
1913789
1912733
1911645
1910602
1909568
1908549
1907582
1906557
1905593
1904607
1903611
1902609
1901534
1900748
1899595
1898656
1897624
1896642
1895648
1894681
1893660
1892666
1891607
1890631
1889606
1888621
1887496
1886565
1885500
1884541
1883453
1882447
1881428
1880391