Cedella
A girl's name of Latin origin with 71 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
If you're considering Cedella, you're looking at a name that fewer than 71 families have ever chosen in the U.S. That kind of rarity is intentional — it signals that the name was chosen for its sound, its personal meaning, or a family connection rather than a trend.
The melodic, romantic ending gives Cedella a flowing quality that carries well in both casual and formal settings.
In the most recent SSA release, Cedella ranks #12381 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Cedella is a girl's baby name of Latin and Italian origin, a compound of Cede (from the Latin cedere, 'to yield, to go, to proceed') and the Italian diminutive -ella ('little, dear'). Cedella Marley was Bob Marley's mother and daughter, carrying the name across two generations of the world's most famous reggae family and giving it an unmistakable Jamaican cultural association.
Cedella carries Bob Marley's family legacy — the name of both his mother (Cedella Booker) and his daughter (Cedella Marley), the reggae dynasty's matriarchal name, carrying the specific music and spiritual depth of the Marley family's extraordinary cultural contribution to the world.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Cedella is a girl's name with over a century of recorded use (1924–2024). Its Latin roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Cedella is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #12381), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Cedella has 10+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1924.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 29 | #12256 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 37 | #13003 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 5 | #5195 | — |
The Story of Cedella
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2014, Cedella is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Cedella are most likely born between 2004 and 2024.
How rare is Cedella?
Only about 1 in every 514,286 babies born in 2024 was named Cedella — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1924, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 37 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Cedella by the numbers
- Would fill 1 school bus
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(10 years, 1924–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | #12381 |
| 2023 | 8 | #11376 |
| 2022 | 6 | #13941 |
| 2021 | 8 | #11326 |
| 2019 | 8 | #11578 |
| 2016 | 6 | #14697 |
| 2014 | 9 | #11171 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12224 |
| 2010 | 6 | #15347 |
| 1924 | 5 | #5195 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cedella a boy's or girl's name?
When was Cedella most popular?
How popular is the name Cedella?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1924–2024