Orla
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Orla
Orla is an Irish name closely associated with the high king Brian Boru, as it was the name of his sister, daughter and niece. It was very popular in the Middle Ages – the fourth most popular name in twelfth century Ireland – and has become popular again in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales today. In Irish, the name is commonly spelled Orlaith or Orlagh.
Orla for girls#2532 US
There is a student at Hogwarts School named Orla Quirke in the Harry Potterbooks.
Orla for boys
While English speakers may will recognize Orla as an Irish girl name with a golden meaning, it is also used as Danish masculine name, and as a unisex choice in Norway, Finland and Germany. The exact etymology in this case is unknown, but one theory is that is comes from Orsolo, Urs, or Ors, all stemming from the Latin ursus meaning "bear".
Alternatively, it may have emerged from Orlando, an Italian variant of Roland, meaning "famous land"; from the Latin ōra meaning "border, margin" or to add a trim to something; or from a Slavic element, relating to eagles. There's also the chance that it emerged from Ole (or Olaf), Ulrik (or Olrik), or another name with similar sounds. This however is all speculation and cannot be confirmed.
Charting for boys in the US way back in the late 1800s, Orla has been notably borne by 20th century Olympic cyclist Orla Jørgensen, 19th century Danish statesman Orla Lehmann, and by the protagonist of a play by Albert Dulk. More recently, influencer Pernille Rosenkilde chose the name Orla Klint August for her son, born in 2025.
Pronounced OR-luh.
As of October 2026, Orla ranked #2532 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1410 in 1892, Nameberry popularity #459.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #4,865 | 29 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #4,687 | 30 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #4,603 | 31 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #4,747 | 29 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #3,984 | 37 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #4,338 | 32 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #2,986 | 56 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #2,848 | 60 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #2,607 | 68 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #2,517 | 71 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #2,532 | 70 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Orla for girls
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Orla.
Orla on lists
Famous Orlas
- Orla BradyGirl
Irish actress
- Órlagh "Orla" FallonGirl
Irish singer of group Celtic Woman
- Orla GuerinGirl
Irish journalist
- Orla FitzgeraldGirl
Irish actress
- Orla TobinGirl
Irish folk singer
- Orla KielyGirl
Irish fashion designer
- Orla GartlandGirl
Irish singer/songwriter
- Orla ClarkGirl
daughter of Katherine Kelly & Ryan Clark
Orla in pop culture
- Orla QuirkeGirl
a character in the Harry Potter series
- Orla SargentGirl
a character in 'The Raven Cycle' by Maggie Stiefvater
- Orla ShipleyGirl
killer whale and defendant in "Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney , Dual Destinies"
- Orla McCoolGirl
a character in the British sitcom "Derry Girls”
- OrlaGirl
a character in Holly Black’s “The Cruel Prince"