UK girl's name
Majella
Feminine name of Irish origin meaning "a twig or supple plant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1999. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Majella is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Majella popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1999 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3900, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1999 to 1999. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Majella is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Majella. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2000 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Majella ranked #3900 for girls in England and Wales in 1999, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 3 girls were registered as Majella.
- • Majella ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #343 in 2001.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Majella as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3900
1999
Births in 1999
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Majella mean?
The given name Majella has its origins in the Irish language and culture. It is derived from the Irish word "maigh", meaning "plain" or "field", combined with the diminutive suffix "-ella". This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone living in or near a field or plain.
Majella is closely associated with the Irish saint and patron, Saint Majella of Ischia. She lived in the 14th century and was known for her piety and charitable works. The name gained popularity among Irish Catholics, particularly in honor of this saint.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Majella is found in the 14th century, in reference to the aforementioned Saint Majella of Ischia. Her birth name was Gemma, but she became known as Majella after her canonization.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Majella. One such person was Majella Breen (1908-1996), an Irish actress and playwright who gained recognition for her work in the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Another notable Majella was Majella Moynihan (1964-1998), an Irish activist and campaigner for the rights of people with disabilities. She played a crucial role in raising awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and advocating for their inclusion in society.
In the realm of sports, Majella Cullen (born 1978) is an Irish former track and field athlete who competed in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. She specialized in the javelin throw and held the Irish record in the event for several years.
Majella O'Donnell (born 1960) is an Irish singer and songwriter who has enjoyed a successful career as part of the popular folk and traditional music group, The Rovers. She has contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Irish music and culture.
Majella Byrne (born 1979) is an Irish television presenter and journalist who has worked for various Irish broadcasters, including RTÉ and TV3. She has covered a wide range of topics, from current affairs to entertainment, and has gained recognition for her professional and engaging on-air presence.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Majella by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Majella was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Majella is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Majella. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Majella ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #343 in 2001.
Across the UK
Majella in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#343 in 2001
1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Majella
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Majella: questions and answers
How popular is the name Majella in the UK right now?
In 1999, Majella was ranked #3900 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Majella most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 3 babies registered as Majella in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Majella?
Feminine name of Irish origin meaning "a twig or supple plant".
How many people are called Majella in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Majella across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 3 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Majella most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Majella ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #343 in 2001. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.