Total births
292
Girls' name · since 1970
Makela
Since 1970, U.S. Social Security records show 292 babies named Makela, peaking in 1996. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 292
- total births
- 1970–2017
- years on record
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 41%
- born in that decade
292 girls have been named Makela since 1970, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Makela has been recorded 292 times among girls since 1970, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1970 to 2017.
- 292 total births
- 1970–2017 years on record
- 2000s peak decade
- 41% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
292 girls have been named Makela since 1970, peaking in the 2000s, last recorded in 2017.
- 292
- total births
- 1970–2017
- years on record
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 41%
- born in that decade
2000s
Peak decade
41% of everyone ever named Makela was born in this single decade.
1996
Single peak year
19 babies were named Makela in 1996 - its busiest year on record.
Makela's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Makela's full recorded timeline at 1998, 58% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 42% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1973, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1996 peak of 19 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Makela at a glance
Last recorded 2017Peak year
1996
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1970
Makela popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1970–2017
- Peak year (1996)
- 19
- Annual births at peak, across 48 years of records
Makela by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Makela's strongest decade.
121 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 41% of all-time use.
Makela births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 35
1970s
35 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
- 1990s
1990s
113 births
- 2000s
2000s
121 births
- 2010s 18
2010s
18 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 121 births (41% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Makela? ▼
292 babies have been named Makela since 1970. It was last recorded in 2017. The peak year was 1996 with 19 births.
When was Makela most popular? ▼
Makela was most popular in the 2000s decade with 121 total births. The single peak year was 1996.
How long has the name Makela been used? ▼
Records for Makela go back to 1970, giving 48 years of history through 2017.
What names are similar to Makela? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Makayla, Makenzie, Makenna, Makena, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Makela's data
- Makela's decade-level peak was the 2000s (121 total births); usage has since declined to 18 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Makela
Nearby Names Like Makela
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Makela
Makayla Girl
#542 108,030 births
Makenzie Girl
#638 45,023 births
Makenna Girl
#523 33,741 births
Makena Girl
#2023 6,568 births
Makaila Girl
#6738 4,747 births
Compare Makela side by side: Makela vs Makayla Makela vs Makenzie Makela vs Makenna
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1970–2017 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Makela: Baby Name Since 1970 - 292 Births, Peak 1996." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/makela. 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 Makela 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.