Marcela
A girl's name of Latin origin with 8,817 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name, equivalent to English Marcella
Marcela is a girl's baby name of Latin origin, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Marcella, from the Roman family name Marcellus meaning 'little Marcus' or 'of Mars,' the god of war. It has been used across Latin America and Southern Europe for centuries.
Marcela has a warm, fluid Latina quality — it's a name found in every generation of Spanish-speaking families, carried by grandmothers and newborns alike. The single "l" gives it a slightly sleeker look than the Italian Marcella while keeping the same timeless, classic appeal.
EtymologyShow more
Marcela is cataloged under the Latin naming tradition. Latin-origin names have been a backbone of Western naming for centuries, carried forward through the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church, and the Romance languages.
In the U.S., Marcela has been recorded as a girl's name since 1908, with 8,817 total births. Browse the Latin names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Marcela was #1113 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1472, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 642 | #1647 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 1,188 | #1761 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,776 | #1272 | — |
| 1990s | 1,802 | #1048 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 1,392 | #1071 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 975 | #1217 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 408 | #1933 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 156 | #3123 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 120 | #2997 | — |
| 1930s | 129 | #2584 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 182 | #2249 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 38 | #3264 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 9 | #1505 | — |
The Story of Marcela
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 1999, Marcela is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Marcela are most likely born between 1989 and 2009.
How rare is Marcela?
Only about 1 in every 24,324 babies born in 2024 was named Marcela — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1908, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1990s with 1,802 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Marcela by the numbers
- Would fill 184 school buses
- Meeting one Marcela per day would take 24.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(110 years, 1908–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 148 | #1472 |
| 2023 | 145 | #1497 |
| 2022 | 115 | #1787 |
| 2021 | 129 | #1626 |
| 2020 | 105 | #1854 |
| 2019 | 141 | #1536 |
| 2018 | 132 | #1620 |
| 2017 | 108 | #1884 |
| 2016 | 127 | #1687 |
| 2015 | 103 | #1958 |
| 2014 | 112 | #1826 |
| 2013 | 114 | #1804 |
| 2012 | 119 | #1738 |
| 2011 | 110 | #1836 |
| 2010 | 122 | #1718 |
| 2009 | 137 | #1638 |
| 2008 | 175 | #1377 |
| 2007 | 163 | #1449 |
| 2006 | 174 | #1340 |
| 2005 | 179 | #1261 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marcela a boy's or girl's name?
When was Marcela most popular?
How popular is the name Marcela?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1908–2024