Della
/ˈdɛl.ə/
Della began as a diminutive of Adela, Adelaide, or Della-related names built on the Old German element adal, meaning “noble.” It may also have developed as a short form of names like Cordelia or Arabella, whose endings echo the -della sound.
The name was popular in the Victorian era, when short, sweet feminine names with a soft final -a were fashionable. O. Henry’s beloved 1905 short story The Gift of the Magi features a heroine named Della, cementing its place in American literary memory.
Della recorded its earliest US peak at No. 60 in 1881 with 428 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 580 with 518 births—actually higher in raw terms than its Victorian high.
What the name Della means
Singer Della Reese (1931-2017) kept the name in mid-century cultural awareness. Its current revival fits the pattern of rediscovered 1880s names—Hazel, Pearl, Mabel—returning to favour.
Two syllables—DEL-uh—are warm and uncomplicated. The doubled l gives it a soft interior that makes it feel intimate and affectionate rather than formal.
Parents rediscovering Della appreciate its gentle vintage feel and the fact that it requires no nickname: it is already compact and wearable at every age.
Related names include Adela, Adelaide, Adella, Dell, and the Italian della (meaning “of the”)—though in Italian it is a preposition rather than a personal name.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Della
Della - similar names
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