Orla
Orla is an anglicisation of Órfhlaith, a feminine given name of Irish origin. The name is often interpreted as meaning "golden princess", as it is derived from the Irish words ór ("gold") and flaith.
- Irish
- Danish
Meaning & Origin of Orla
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Orla is an anglicisation of Órfhlaith, a feminine given name of Irish origin. The name is often interpreted as meaning "golden princess", as it is derived from the Irish words ór ("gold") and flaith.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Irish
- Danish
The Story of Orla
As a girl name
Orla first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1892, with 6 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2026: 81 births, good for #2,295 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 35% of all recorded Orlas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,295 among girl names with 81 births, rising sharply (+106% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Orlas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Orla as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 5 babies received it. 1921 was its biggest year on record, with 13 newborns named Orla — #2,376 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 33% of all recorded Orlas. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1965 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 286 Orlas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Orla
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Orla. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Orlagh
- Órlaith
Names that sound like Orla
Phonetically similar names — useful when Orla is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Orla
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About the name Orla
Orla is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1892 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Orla's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,278. Use the chart and map above to compare Orla's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "O" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.