Marcela
“warlike” — Associated with the Latin word for 'field'
Spain origin · Girl name
#1497US 2023
145Births / yr
↑Rising
8.3kAll-time births
📅 Since 190800.01% of births at peak
How to pronounce Marcela
mah·RCHEL·uh
/mɑ.ˈrtʃɛl.ə/ · stress on RCHEL · 3 syllables
“warlike”
Associated with the Latin word for 'field' · Spain origin
What does Marcela mean and where does it come from?
Marcela is a feminine form of the name Marcos or Marcus, linked to the Roman god of war, Mars. The name is used widely in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries and can also refer to fields and landscapes, as it is often associated with the Latin word for 'field'. It has been a popular name in La
Cultural significance
Marcela has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in Spain-speaking communities, where it reflects values of warlike.
Peak popularity
Reached #946 in 1991 — currently #1497 in the US.
What middle names flow best with Marcela?
Marcela works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful
Marcela Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Marcela Rose
Floral · soft ending
Marcela Mae
Sweet · timeless
Marcela Claire
French influence · crisp
Marcela Jane
Literary · strong
Marcela Skye
Modern · airy feel
How popular is Marcela right now?
Rising fast — up 290 spots — currently #1497 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names
The story of Marcela
Marcela entered American naming records in 1908 and has been in use for over 116 years. With 8,272 total births recorded, Marcela remains relatively uncommon. The name has grown more popular over time, rising from #3608 in 1915 to #1497 in 2023.
Names that peaked alongside Marcela in 1991:
Marcela by decade
Marcela peaked in the 1990s. See all 1990s names →
| Decade | Births | |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 9 | |
| 1910s | 38 | |
| 1920s | 182 | |
| 1930s | 129 | |
| 1940s | 120 | |
| 1950s | 154 | |
| 1960s | 408 | |
| 1970s | 973 | |
| 1980s | 1,392 | |
| 1990s ★ | 1,802 | |
| 2000s | 1,773 | |
| 2010s | 1,187 | |
| 2020s | 105 |
With 8,272 total births, Marcela is an uncommon but established name.
What are good nicknames for Marcela?
FRENCH
Marcellette
GERMAN
Zella
ANCIENT ROMAN
Marcellus
BASQUE
Martzel
What names sound and feel like Marcela?
Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Marcela also consider these
How is Marcela written in other languages?
What are the boy versions of Marcela?
Marcellus ANCIENT ROMANMartzel BASQUEMarcel CATALANMarcel CZECHCeel DUTCHMarcel DUTCHMarcellus DUTCHMarcel FRENCHMarcel GERMANMarcellus GERMANMarzell GERMANMarcell HUNGARIANMarcello ITALIANMarcel POLISHMarceli POLISHMarcelinho PORTUGUESEMarcelo PORTUGUESEMarcel ROMANIANMarcel SLOVAKMarcelo SPANISHMarkos ANCIENT GREEKMarcellina ANCIENT ROMANMarcellinus ANCIENT ROMANMarcia ANCIENT ROMANMarciana ANCIENT ROMANMarcianus ANCIENT ROMANMarcius ANCIENT ROMANMarcus ANCIENT ROMANMarko BASQUEMarkos BIBLICAL GREEKMarcus BIBLICAL LATINMark BIBLICALMarko BULGARIANMarc CATALANMargh CORNISHMarko CROATIANMarek CZECHMarcus DANISHMark DANISHMarkus DANISHMarco DUTCHMark DUTCHMarcelyn ENGLISHMarci ENGLISHMarcia ENGLISHMarcie ENGLISHMarcus ENGLISHMarcy ENGLISHMark ENGLISHMarsha ENGLISHSalena ENGLISHSalina ENGLISHSelina ENGLISHMarkku FINNISHMarko FINNISHMarkus FINNISHCéline FRENCHMarc FRENCHMarcelin FRENCHMarceline FRENCHMarcellin FRENCHMarcelline FRENCHMarco GERMANMarkus GERMANMarkos GREEKMaleko HAWAIIANMárk HUNGARIANMarcas IRISHCelino ITALIANMarcellino ITALIANMarciano ITALIANMarco ITALIANMarzia ITALIANMarzio ITALIANMarkuss LATVIANMarko MACEDONIANMarcus NORWEGIANMark NORWEGIANMarkus NORWEGIANCelina POLISHMarcelina POLISHMarek POLISHBRAZILIAN(Marciana PORTUGUESEMarciane PORTUGUESEMarcelino PORTUGUESEMárcia PORTUGUESEMarciano PORTUGUESEMárcio PORTUGUESEMarco PORTUGUESEMarcos PORTUGUESEMarquinhos PORTUGUESEMars ROMAN MYTHOLOGYMark RUSSIANMarcas SCOTTISHMarko SERBIANMarek SLOVAKMarko SLOVENECelino SPANISHMarcelino SPANISHMarcia SPANISHMarciano SPANISHMarcio SPANISHMarco SPANISHMarcos SPANISHMarcus SWEDISHMark SWEDISHMarkus SWEDISHMarko UKRAINIANMarc WELSH
Common questions about the name Marcela
What does the name Marcela mean?
Marcela means "warlike" — a name rooted in Spain tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Marcela?
Marcela is currently a distinctive and less common name as a girl name in the US and is rapidly gaining popularity — searches for Marcela have increased significantly in recent years.
What is the cultural origin of Marcela?
Marcela originates from Spain tradition. Spain names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Marcela?
Marcela is a three-syllable name pronounced M AA0 R CH EH1 L AH0. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
What sibling names go well with Marcela?
Marcela pairs beautifully with sibling names that share a similar Spain heritage or complement its melodic and flowing sound. Names with a similar vibe create a cohesive sibling set without matching too closely.
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