Marcela
Girl name · #1549 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
Marcela ranks #1549 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 136 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1950, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,235 girls born in 2025 was named Marcela.
Babies named Marcela per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 117-year story
Marcela first appears in the Social Security records in 1908, when 9 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 210 girls were named Marcela — good for #983 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marcela against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marcela in class?
Marcela scores 57 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marcela is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marcela is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Marcelas were TX (31), CA (19), FL (13), AL (5), GA (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Marcela
Statistically, parents drawn to Marcela tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Micaela, Mariela, Graciela, Isela, and Mikaela.
MicaelaMarielaGracielaIselaMikaelaMichaelaMirellaGisela
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marcela | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 136 | #1548 |
| 2024 | 148 | #1472 |
| 2023 | 145 | #1493 |
| 2022 | 115 | #1782 |
| 2021 | 129 | #1622 |
| 2020 | 105 | #1849 |
| 2019 | 141 | #1528 |
| 2018 | 132 | #1616 |
| 2017 | 108 | #1876 |
| 2016 | 127 | #1684 |
| 2015 | 103 | #1950 |
| 2014 | 112 | #1818 |
| 2013 | 114 | #1792 |
| 2012 | 119 | #1733 |
| 2011 | 110 | #1829 |
| 2010 | 122 | #1713 |
| 2009 | 137 | #1629 |
| 2008 | 175 | #1374 |
| 2007 | 163 | #1445 |
| 2006 | 174 | #1335 |
| 2005 | 180 | #1255 |
| 2004 | 206 | #1107 |
| 2003 | 201 | #1094 |
| 2002 | 178 | #1156 |
| 2001 | 199 | #1066 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Marcela a popular girl name?
Marcela ranked #1549 among girls in 2025 with 136 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1950.
When was the name Marcela most popular?
Marcela peaked in 1999, when 210 American girls received the name (ranked #983 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marcela?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,235 newborn American girls was named Marcela. It scores 57/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.