Fun Facts About the Name Gelila
- 360 babies named Gelila: U.S. records list 360 babies given the name Gelila from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Gelila Mean?
Gelila (Amharic: ገሊላ) is a feminine given name used in Ethiopia. Its most widely cited association is with Galilee, the region in northern Israel that figures prominently in the New Testament; in Amharic, Galilee is written ገሊላ, the same spelling used for the name. The Hebrew place name behind it is Galil (גליל), generally explained as "district" or "region," from a root connected with a circle or a turning.
Because the personal name and the Amharic place name are identical in form, Galilee is the most plausible source, but a separate Amharic or Ge'ez word origin has not been firmly documented. Some published name lists offer looser glosses for Gelila; those read as customary interpretations rather than a secure etymology, so the literal meaning of the name as a personal name remains uncertain.
Gelila Name History & Origins
Gelila is a female name among Amharic-speaking Ethiopians and in Ethiopian communities abroad. Its form matches the Amharic name for Galilee, a place well known from the Gospels, and Ethiopian personal names are often drawn from religious vocabulary of this kind.
Beyond that coincidence with the biblical place name, the name's development is not well documented. It is not clear whether Gelila entered use directly as a place name, as a baptismal name recalling a holy site, or from some other source, and no distinct earlier form of the personal name is reliably recorded.
How Popular is the Name Gelila?
Gelila has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2020. Its best rank was #4,480 in 2020.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,265 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #8,083 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #9,192 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #9,256 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #7,383 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2020 | #4,480 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #7,870 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #6,099 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #5,723 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2016 | #5,187 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2015 | #12,216 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #6,810 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #7,897 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #5,770 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2011 | #6,663 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #8,404 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #7,452 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #10,313 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #13,085 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #7,997 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #17,355 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #11,683 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #10,505 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #9,622 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #14,933 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #14,501 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Gelila Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Gelila's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Gelila's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.