UK girl's name
Mariela
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "star of the sea".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mariela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mariela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 6 births.
This profile covers 39 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2008 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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.
The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 39 living people in the UK are called Mariela. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mariela ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 6 girls were registered as Mariela.
- • About 39 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mariela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2022
6 births
Estimated living
39
2026
Meaning
What does Mariela mean?
The name Mariela is a feminine form of the name Maria, which has its roots in the Latin name Marius. The name Maria is derived from the Hebrew name Miryam, which means "bitter" or "beloved." Mariela is a Spanish and Italian variation of the name, often used in these cultures.
Mariela is believed to have originated in the early Middle Ages, when names derived from Maria became popular among Christians. The name was particularly common in Spain and Italy, where it was often given to honor the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ in Christian tradition.
In Spain, the earliest recorded use of the name Mariela can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Mariela de Castilla, a Spanish noblewoman who lived in the late 13th century.
In Italy, the name Mariela was also popular during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. One notable Italian woman with this name was Mariela Strozzi, a poet and writer who lived in the 15th century.
Throughout history, there have been several notable women named Mariela. One famous bearer of the name was Mariela Álvarez, an Argentine actress and singer who lived from 1922 to 1998. She was known for her roles in numerous Argentine films and television shows.
Another notable Mariela was Mariela Castro Espín, the daughter of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Cuba. She was born in 1962 and has played a key role in the country's efforts to advance LGBTQ+ equality.
In the literary world, Mariela Griffor is a Chilean writer and poet who was born in 1960. She is known for her works exploring themes of identity, memory, and the human experience.
Mariela Scorza was an Argentine writer and journalist who lived from 1942 to 2002. She was known for her novels and short stories that explored the complexities of human relationships and social issues.
Mariela Nava is a Mexican singer and actress who was born in 1986. She has appeared in various telenovelas and has released several successful albums.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Mariela, highlighting its enduring presence across different cultures and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mariela over time
The chart below shows babies named Mariela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mariela, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mariela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mariela 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4304 | 14 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4502 | 22 | 5 |
| 2000s | #5545 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mariela
- 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
Mariela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mariela in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mariela was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Mariela most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 6 babies registered as Mariela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mariela?
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "star of the sea".
How many people are called Mariela in the UK?
A total of 39 babies have been registered as Mariela across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.