Total births
801
Unisex name · since 1889
Ala
Since 1889, U.S. Social Security records show 801 babies named Ala, peaking in 2017. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #8456
- among girls today
- 801
- born since 1889
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other girls
801 babies have been named Ala since 1889, making it today's #8456 unisex name.
Ala has 801 recorded births among girls since 1889, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #8456 as of the latest data, more common than 52% of girls, busiest in the 2010s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1889 to 2025.
- #8456 among girls today
- 801 born since 1889
- 2010s peak decade
- 52% more common than other girls
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Ala is currently the #8456 unisex name in America, more common than 52% of girls - 801 born since 1889, peaking in the 2010s.
- #8456
- among girls today
- 801
- born since 1889
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other girls
Ala vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#8456
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 52% of names given to girls today.
2010s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Ala was born in this single decade.
2017
Single peak year
24 babies were named Ala in 2017 - its busiest year on record.
How Ala compares
801 Top 36% higher than 64% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Ala's all-time total is 110% above the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Ala | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 801 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 24 | 48 | 19,840 |
Ala's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Ala's SSA record in two at 1988 and the more recent half accounts for 65% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 35%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1889, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2017 peak of 24, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Ala at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2017
Current rank
#8,456
Active since
1889
Ala popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1889–2025
- Peak year (2017)
- 24
- Annual births at peak, across 137 years of records
Ala popularity over time - boys
142 total births recorded since 1958 (Ala as boys' name)
Ala by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Ala's strongest decade.
157 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Ala births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1900s 13
1900s
13 births
- 1910s
1910s
94 births
- 1920s
1920s
76 births
- 1930s 24
1930s
24 births
- 1940s 7
1940s
7 births
- 1950s 17
1950s
17 births
- 1970s 16
1970s
16 births
- 1980s
1980s
63 births
- 1990s
1990s
130 births
- 2000s
2000s
103 births
- 2010s
2010s
157 births
- 2020s
2020s
96 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 157 births (20% of all-time use).
How Ala compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Ala's total volume
Ala vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ala? ▼
Ala has been given to 801 babies in the U.S. since 1889, according to SSA data. Among girls, it ranks #8456 as of the latest data. 24 babies were born in 2017, its single highest year.
When was Ala most popular? ▼
Ala was most popular in the 2010s decade with 157 total births. The single peak year was 2017.
Is Ala a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Ala is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 801 births, and as a boy's name it has 142 births.
How long has the name Ala been used? ▼
Records for Ala go back to 1889, giving 137 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Ala? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Alana, Alaina, Alayna, Alanna, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Ala's data
- Ala's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (157 total births) through the 2020s (96) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Ala
Nearby Names Like Ala
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ala
Alana Girl
#143 68,264 births
Alaina Girl
#212 50,578 births
Alayna Girl
#312 35,589 births
Alanna Girl
#290 27,012 births
Alani Girl
#178 18,799 births
Compare Ala side by side: Ala vs Alana Ala vs Alaina Ala vs Alayna
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Ala
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1889–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ala: #8456 Unisex Name - 801 Births, Peak 2017." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ala. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Ala draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.