Calla

At a Glance

Meaning

Uncertain (disputed ancient reading, possibly 'cup' or 'husk')

Origin

Latin (botanical name, root disputed)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

KAL-ahListen

Calla is pronounced KAL-ah, drawn from Latin as a botanical name whose root is still disputed among scholars. You may have heard it means "beautiful," but that idea actually comes from the unrelated Greek word kalos — the real root most likely points to "cup" or "husk" instead. It has a clean, modern, minimalist feel to it.

Meaning & Origin of Calla

Meaning: Uncertain (disputed ancient reading, possibly 'cup' or 'husk').

Origin: Latin (botanical name, root disputed).

A common claim: Beautiful Actually: Calla is widely said to mean 'beautiful' (Greek kalos), but that's folk etymology; the botanical root actually traces to a disputed ancient reading, most likely 'cup/husk.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Calla

Popularity of Calla

Calla shows up in U.S. baby name records from 1880 through 2024. It hit its highest rank, #633, back in 1881 with just 8 babies given the name, and by 2024 it ranked #1514, given to 142 babies that year.

Names Like Calla

These names share Calla’s style, era or origin.

• Agnes
• Cleo
• Effie
• Elaia
• Gaia
• Irene

FAQ

What does the name Calla mean?

Uncertain (disputed ancient reading, possibly ‘cup’ or ‘husk’). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Calla?

Calla is pronounced KAL-ah (IPA: /ˈkælə/).

Is Calla a popular name right now?

Calla peaked at #633 in 1881 and is ranked #1514 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Calla Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Calla, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.