Panela
Panela or rapadura is an unrefined whole cane sugar, typical of Latin America. It is a solid form of sucrose derived from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice. Panela is known by other names in Latin America, such as chancaca in Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, piloncillo in Mexico. Just like brown sugar, two varieties of piloncillo are available; one is lighter and one darker.
Meaning & Origin of Panela
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Panela or rapadura is an unrefined whole cane sugar, typical of Latin America. It is a solid form of sucrose derived from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice. Panela is known by other names in Latin America, such as chancaca in Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, piloncillo in Mexico. Just like brown sugar, two varieties of piloncillo are available; one is lighter and one darker.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Panela
Panela first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1963, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1963, when 5 Panelas were born — ranking #6,590 that year. As of 2026, Panela ranks #6,590 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Panelas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Panela
Phonetically similar names — useful when Panela is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Pamela
- Panella
- Pennella
- Pinilla
- Panel
- Panels
- Pannel
- Pannell
- Panal
- Pianola
- Paneled
- Panola
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Panela
What does the name Panela mean?
How popular is Panela in 2026?
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About the name Panela
Panela is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1963 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Panela's peak popularity came in 1963 when it ranked #6,590. Use the chart and map above to compare Panela's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1963 →
- Names of the 1960s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.