Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Orla
GirlIrish· “golden princess”
- Meaning
- golden princess
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- OR-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,532
- US babies 2025
- 70
- Best rank
- #1,410 (1892)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Orla
Orla is an Irish name that means “golden princess”.
Orla is the anglicized form of the Irish Órlaith, from ór, gold, and flaith, princess or ruler, so it is usually given as golden princess. The name was borne by several women in medieval Ireland, including a sister of the high king Brian Boru. It is said OR-luh in English, while the Irish form is closer to OR-lah. Orlaith and Orlagh are other spellings. The name has long been used in Ireland and has spread to Britain and the United States. It is short and clear, and its meaning is one of the more specific among Irish names.
Popularity over time
Orla first appears in US Social Security records in 1892. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,410 in 1892, and the most babies received it in 2024, when 71 were named Orla. In 2025, 70 babies were named Orla, and it ranked #2,532 nationally. That is 133% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,241 in 1920, #5,883 in 2000, #6,129 in 2010, and #2,532 in 2025. Of the 1,199 US girls named Orla since records began, 30% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 273 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Blima, Kaely, Avie, Leiana, and Nara.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Orla ranked highest in New York and Pennsylvania.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #1292 | 11 |
| Pennsylvania | #1353 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Orla is usually pronounced OR-luh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with O and ends in “-la”.
Middle names for Orla
A few middle names that flow with Orla: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Orla
Similar names
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Lists that include Orla
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Orla mean?
Orla is an Irish name that means “golden princess”.
What is the origin of the name Orla?
Orla has Irish roots. Orla is the anglicized form of the Irish Órlaith, from ór, gold, and flaith, princess or ruler, so it is usually given as golden princess.
Is Orla a popular name?
Not especially. Orla ranked #2,532 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Orla a boy or girl name?
Orla is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Orla?
Orla is usually pronounced OR-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