Mariela
Mariela was the 1232nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 183 babies. Its best year was 1992, when it ranked 471st with 524 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 328 places. More babies were named Mariela in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Mariella) little Maria · Italian, Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #1,232 girls, up 298 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 183girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1992524 babies
- Total since 1880
- 11,668babies recorded
What does the name Mariela mean?
Mariela is a spelling of Mariella, pronounced the same way, so it shares Mariella's meaning and origin.
Mariella is an Italian diminutive of Maria, made with the ending -ella, so 'little Maria'. Maria is the Latin form of Mary, from Hebrew Miryam, a name whose meaning is uncertain; DMNES reports the common derivation from a root meaning 'bitter' and an alternative linking it to 'rebellion'. Mariela, Mariel and Marielle are related forms in other languages.
Maria (Italian / Latin, “Mary”)-ella (Italian, “diminutive suffix”)מִרְיָם (Biblical Hebrew, “Miriam; meaning uncertain”)
How sure is this? Probable. The diminutive is clear; the meaning of Mary/Maria is uncertain.
Related names: Mariela, Mariel, Marielle, Maria.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Mariella' (Italian section), Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Mary', DMNES, Durham University
Mariela popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 8 since 1992.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,232 | 183 |
| 2020 | #1,530 | 139 |
| 2010 | #1,073 | 232 |
| 2000 | #746 | 309 |
| 1990 | #820 | 239 |
| 1980 | #1,200 | 110 |
| 1970 | #2,994 | 23 |
| 1960 | #6,130 | 6 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Mariela, counting every spelling?
Mariela is a spelling of Mariella, a name family that ranked #637 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,232 for Mariela on its own. Together these spellings went to 457 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mariella | 274 | #943 | 1,146 |
| Mariela | 183 | #1,232 | 829 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Mariela?
183 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Mariela (0.05 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Mariela born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 46 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Mariela.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Mariela?
About 11,500 people born in the US named Mariela are alive today, with a median age of 25; half are between 17 and 33. That makes Mariela mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Mariela by state
How common Mariela was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Texas (2.1×), Arizona (2.0×), California (1.6×). In 31 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Mariela: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Mariela, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Mariela
What does Mariela mean?
Mariela is a spelling of Mariella, which means “little Maria” (Italian, Hebrew origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Mariela?
Mariela was the 1232nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 183 babies. Its best year was 1992, when it ranked 471st with 524 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 328 places. More babies were named Mariela in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Mariela a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Mariela in the US.
Where is Mariela most popular?
In 2021–2025, Mariela was most common in Texas (0.21 per 1,000 girls), followed by Arizona and California.