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Name Lineage

    The first name Orla

    A girl’s name from Irish meaning “golden princess”, “gold”, “princess”.

    2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Irish origin

    Orla means “golden princess”, “gold”, “princess” in Irish.

    Anglicized version of Irish Órfhlaith (“golden princess”), from ór (“gold”) + flaith (“princess”).

    More names that mean gold, queen.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 721 girls were named Orla, making it the 64th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 794 births (#66).

    0400800 1996200020052010201520202025
    11,520
    babies named Orla, 1996–2025
    #64
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Orla with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Orla at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 70 girls born in the United States were named Orla, the 2,532nd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2024, when 71 were.

    04080 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    1,485
    babies named Orla since 1880
    #2,532
    rank in 2025
    2024
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Orla in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Órfhlaith
    Irish

    Famous people named Orla

    3 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Orla Jørgensen
      Danish racing cyclist (1904-1947)
    • Orla Lehmann
      Danish politician (1810-1870)
    • Orla Rosenhoff
      Danish composer (1844-1905)

    More Irish girls’ names

    All 142 names of Irish origin

    Questions

    What does the name Orla mean?
    Orla means “golden princess”, “gold”, “princess” in Irish.
    What is the origin of the name Orla?
    Anglicized version of Irish Órfhlaith (“golden princess”), from ór (“gold”) + flaith (“princess”).
    How popular is the name Orla?
    In 2025, 721 girls born in England and Wales were named Orla, ranking 64th. Its peak was 2021, with 794 births.
    Is Orla a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 1,485 US babies named Orla since 1880, 81% were girls and 19% boys.
    When was Orla most popular?
    2024 in the United States, when 71 babies were named Orla, its highest rank at 2,525th.