Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Della
GirlGermanic, English· “short form of Adela; noble”
- Meaning
- short form of Adela; noble
- Origin
- Germanic, English
- Pronunciation
- DEH-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #563
- US babies 2025
- 533
- Best rank
- #60 (1881)
- Peak year
- 1917
Meaning and origin of Della
Della is a Germanic and English name that is usually said to mean “short form of Adela; noble”.
Della began as a short form of Adela or Adelaide, names built on the Germanic element adal, meaning "noble." It became an independent given name in the English-speaking world in the nineteenth century. Readers may know Della Young from O. Henry's short story The Gift of the Magi, in which she sells her hair to buy a Christmas present for her husband. The name also belongs to Della Street, Perry Mason's loyal secretary in the detective stories. Today Della feels like a sweet vintage revival, short and melodic, in the spirit of Stella and Nell.
Other spellings with the same sound: Dela.
Popularity over time
Della has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 106 different years. Its best national rank was #60 in 1881, and the most babies received it in 1917, when 1,192 were named Della. In 2025, 533 babies were named Della, and it ranked #563 nationally. That is 144% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #183 in 1920, #312 in 1950, #1,221 in 1980, #3,084 in 2000, #1,625 in 2010, and #563 in 2025. Of the 70,810 US girls named Della since records began, 15% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 9,450 babies. Since 2010, 4,800 more have been named Della.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Nettie, Jeannette, Fern, Adele, and Freda.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Della ranked highest in North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #122 | 8 |
| Nebraska | #151 | 15 |
| South Dakota | #167 | 7 |
| Montana | #175 | 6 |
| Iowa | #233 | 15 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Della is usually pronounced DEH-luh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with D and ends in “-la”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Dela.
Middle names for Della
A few middle names that flow with Della: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Della
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Lists that include Della
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Della mean?
Della is a Germanic and English name that is usually said to mean “short form of Adela; noble”.
What is the origin of the name Della?
Della has Germanic and English roots. Della began as a short form of Adela or Adelaide, names built on the Germanic element adal, meaning "noble." It became an independent given name in the English-speaking world in the nineteenth century.
Is Della a popular name?
Yes. Della ranked #563 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Della a boy or girl name?
Della is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Della?
Della is usually pronounced DEH-luh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings