UK girl's name
Ornella
A feminine name of unclear origin, possibly Italian or French.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ornella is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ornella popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2504, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 10 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2002 to 2023. 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.
Ornella is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 64 living people in the UK are called Ornella. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ornella ranked #2504 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 10 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 10 girls were registered as Ornella.
- • About 64 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ornella as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2504
2023
Births in 2023
10
Latest year
Peak year
2023
10 births
Estimated living
64
2026
Meaning
What does Ornella mean?
The name Ornella is of Italian origin and has its roots in the Latin language. It is a diminutive form of the name Ornella, which itself is derived from the Latin word "ornatus," meaning "adorned" or "decorated." This suggests that the name Ornella may have been given to babies who were considered particularly beautiful or adorned.
In ancient Roman times, the name Ornella was likely used as a nickname or pet name for girls named Ornella. However, there are no definitive records of the name appearing in historical texts or religious scriptures from that era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ornella dates back to the 13th century, when a woman named Ornella di Todi (1284-1310) lived in the Italian town of Todi. She was a mystic and is now venerated as a Blessed in the Catholic Church.
Another notable figure in history with the name Ornella was Ornella Muti (born 1955), an Italian actress and model who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s for her roles in various Italian and international films.
In the world of literature, Ornella Vanoni (1934-2022) was an Italian singer and actress who achieved great success in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly with her interpretations of Italian and French songs.
In the realm of fashion, Ornella Bignami (born 1975) is an Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur who co-founded the luxury fashion brand Forte_Forte.
Ornella Mutti (1936-2014) was an Italian film actress who appeared in numerous Italian and international films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, often playing sensual or provocative roles.
While the name Ornella has its roots in ancient Rome and has been used throughout Italian history, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in Latin American countries where Italian influence is strong.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ornella over time
The chart below shows babies named Ornella registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ornella, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2023, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ornella by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ornella 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 | #4117 | 24 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4399 | 25 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4184 | 15 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ornella
- Olivia 123,111
- Orla 10,799
- Olive 6,815
- Ophelia 4,939
- Ottilie 4,407
- Oliwia 2,608
- Ocean 1,811
- Orlaith 1,357
- Olivia-Rose 1,250
- Octavia 1,243
- Olivia-Grace 618
- Orlagh 608
FAQ
Ornella: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ornella in the UK right now?
In 2023, Ornella was ranked #2504 for girls in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.
When was Ornella most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 10 babies registered as Ornella in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ornella?
A feminine name of unclear origin, possibly Italian or French.
How many people are called Ornella in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Ornella across the 13 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.