The name Vella is of Italian origin, derived from the word 'vello', which means 'wool'. It was traditionally given to individuals who worked in the wool trade or had a profession related to textiles. The name is pronounced as 'VEL-la' with a long 'e' sound similar to that in 'echo'. Vella has been more commonly used as a surname, but it can also be found as a given name, particularly in Italy and among Italian communities abroad.
The name Vella has seen fluctuations in its popularity over the years. From 1882 to 1967, there were periods of increased birth occurrences, notably between 1907 and 1915 with numbers ranging from 20 to 53 births annually, indicating a higher demand for the name during that era. However, since 1967 until recent years, the number of annual births has been consistently low, often below ten, suggesting decreased popularity of the name Vella in more recent decades. Despite this decline, there have been intermittent spikes in popularity, such as in 2013 with 21 births and again in 2020 with 28 births. Overall, since records began, a total of 2230 babies named Vella were born.