NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Taela

A feminine name of undetermined origin possibly meaning "prosperous" or "fertile".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Taela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Taela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4564, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 9 births.

This profile covers 29 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1998 to 2009. 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 29 living people in the UK are called Taela. 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 2010 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Taela ranked #4564 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2002, when 9 girls were registered as Taela.
  • About 29 living people in the UK are estimated to have Taela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4564

2009

Births in 2009

4

Latest year

Peak year

2002

9 births

Estimated living

29

2026

Meaning

What does Taela mean?

The name Taela is believed to have originated from the Old Norse language, spoken by the Germanic people who inhabited Scandinavia and parts of northern Europe during the Viking Age, approximately between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is derived from the Old Norse word "taela," which means "to speak" or "to converse."

In ancient Norse mythology, Taela was one of the lesser-known goddesses associated with speech, eloquence, and communication. She was often invoked by poets, storytellers, and orators seeking inspiration and the gift of articulation. However, there are no known historical records or texts that mention her name explicitly.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Taela dates back to the 12th century. It appears in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of prose narratives that recount the lives and adventures of Scandinavian settlers and their descendants in Iceland during the Viking Age. In the Saga of Grettir the Strong, a minor character named Taela is mentioned as a wise and articulate woman known for her counsel and advice.

Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who bore the name Taela. In the 14th century, Taela Hakonsdottir was a Norwegian noblewoman and landowner who played a significant role in the political affairs of her time. She was known for her diplomatic skills and negotiations during the Norwegian Civil War.

In the 16th century, Taela Thorvaldsdottir was an Icelandic poet and storyteller whose works were highly regarded for their vivid imagery and lyrical language. Unfortunately, most of her writings have been lost to time, but she is remembered as one of the most influential literary figures of her era.

During the 19th century, Taela Eriksdottir was a Swedish educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first schools for girls in Stockholm and fought for equal educational opportunities for women. Her efforts paved the way for future generations of female scholars and professionals.

In the early 20th century, Taela Nilsdottir was a Norwegian explorer and adventurer. She was part of the first all-female expedition to the Arctic regions and documented her experiences in a book that became a bestseller at the time.

While the name Taela may have fallen out of widespread use in modern times, its historical roots and associations with eloquence, wisdom, and courage make it a unique and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Taela over time

The chart below shows babies named Taela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Taela, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2009, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Taela
02579199820032009

Decades

Taela by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Taela 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
2000s #3333 21 4
1990s #1979 8 1

Related

Names similar to Taela

FAQ

Taela: questions and answers

How popular is the name Taela in the UK right now?

In 2009, Taela was ranked #4564 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Taela most popular?

The peak year on record was 2002, with 9 babies registered as Taela in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Taela?

A feminine name of undetermined origin possibly meaning "prosperous" or "fertile".

How many people are called Taela in the UK?

A total of 29 babies have been registered as Taela across the 5 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.