Tella
Tella or talla is a traditional beer from Ethiopia. It is brewed from various grains, which can change depending on location. These typically include barley or teff. Depending on region, wheat, sorghum, or corn may be used; spices can also be added. Dried and ground shiny-leaf buckthorn leaves are used for fermentation. The drink is made in a clay pot. The pot is washed with a plant called grawa.
Meaning & Origin of Tella
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Tella or talla is a traditional beer from Ethiopia. It is brewed from various grains, which can change depending on location. These typically include barley or teff. Depending on region, wheat, sorghum, or corn may be used; spices can also be added. Dried and ground shiny-leaf buckthorn leaves are used for fermentation. The drink is made in a clay pot. The pot is washed with a plant called grawa.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Tella
Tella first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1880, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1989, when 11 Tellas were born — ranking #6,955 that year. As of 2026, Tella ranks #6,955 for baby girls with 11 births, with steady use. In total, more than 54 Tellas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Tella
Phonetically similar names — useful when Tella 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 Tella
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About the name Tella
Tella is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 54 births in the dataset. Tella's peak popularity came in 1989 when it ranked #6,955. Use the chart and map above to compare Tella's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1989 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- Names starting with "T" →
- 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.