Fun Facts About the Name Vala
- 216 babies named Vala: U.S. records list 216 babies given the name Vala from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Vala Mean?
Vala is a feminine name with several independent origins. In Scandinavian tradition, it comes from Old Norse völva (also written vala in some sources), meaning "seeress" or "prophetess." A proposed link to Old Norse völr "staff" would give a literal sense like "staff-bearer," but that derivation is uncertain.
In Albanian, Vala is a feminine name taken from valë "wave."
In Sanskrit, vala (वल) means "cave" or "enclosure" and is the name of a demon in the Rigveda. This is a separate word and not the source of the Scandinavian or Albanian names.
Vala Name History & Origins
The Scandinavian name Vala is tied to the Old Norse word völva (plural völur), a woman who practiced seiðr and foretold the future. The word appears in medieval Icelandic literature; the poem Völuspá, part of the Poetic Edda, is presented as the prophecy of a völva. The usual meaning of the term is "seeress" or "prophetess." Some explanations connect völva with Old Norse völr "staff," which would make the literal sense something like "staff-bearer," but that link is not certain. In modern Icelandic and other Scandinavian naming, Vala is used as a feminine given name.
In Albanian, Vala is a feminine given name from valë "wave." It is used in Albania and in Albanian-speaking communities in Kosovo and North Macedonia. This name developed independently of the Norse word.
In Sanskrit, vala (वल) means "cave" or "enclosure" and is the name of a demon in the Rigveda. The myth recounts that Indra and the Angirasas broke open Vala's cave to release cows that had been hidden there. The Sanskrit term is a separate word, not an ancestor of the Scandinavian or Albanian names.
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Vala (plural Valar) is a Quenya term for one of the great "Powers" of Arda, related to a root meaning "power." This is a well-known literary use from the twentieth century, but it is not evidence for the earlier history of Vala as a personal name.
How Popular is the Name Vala?
Vala 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 2011. Its best rank was #3,755 in 1939.
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 | #10,059 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #13,353 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #12,158 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #10,189 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #13,703 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #14,004 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #11,712 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #16,281 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #11,867 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #16,399 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #9,085 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2011 | #9,113 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #16,859 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #15,147 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #10,051 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #13,853 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #5,977 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #6,552 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #5,809 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #6,061 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #6,668 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #4,250 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #5,527 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #6,162 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1939 | #3,755 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #5,558 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1925 | #5,708 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #5,668 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #5,805 | 5 | 0.0004% |
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 Vala Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fixed in your opinions, firm in your friendships and square in your dealings with others. You are an excellent worker. Since you are both possessive and emotional, you can be either very practical or very impractical and unpredictable. Your dual nature needs to become steadfast. You are the marrying kind. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Vala's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Vala's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.