How popular is the baby name Jilla in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Jilla.

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Popularity of the baby name Jilla


Posts that mention the name Jilla

Interesting one-hit wonder names in the U.S. baby name data

single flower

They came, they went, and they never came back!

These baby names are one-hit wonders in the U.S. baby name data. That is, they’ve only popped up once, ever, in the entire dataset of U.S. baby names (which accounts for all names given to at least 5 U.S. babies per year since 1880).

There are thousands of one-hit wonders in the dataset, but the names below have interesting stories behind their single appearance, so these are the one-hits I’m writing specific posts about. Just click on a name to read more.

2020s

  • (none yet)

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

1950s

1940s

1930s

1920s

1910s

1900s

  • (none yet)

1890s

As I discover (and write about) more one-hit wonders in the data, I’ll add the names/links to this page. In the meanwhile, do you have any favorite one-hit wonder baby names?

Image: Adapted from Solitary Poppy by Andy Beecroft under CC BY-SA 2.0.

[Latest update: Dec. 2023]

Where did the baby name Jilla come from in 1951?

Singer Jilla Webb
Jilla Webb

The uncommon baby name Jilla appeared for the first time in the U.S. baby name data in 1951:

  • 1953: unlisted
  • 1952: unlisted
  • 1951: 6 baby girls named Jilla [debut]
  • 1950: unlisted
  • 1949: unlisted

Why?

Likely because of American pop/jazz vocalist Jilla Webb (born Shirley Weber in Detroit in 1921).

She got her start in New York City, singing on the radio and in nightclubs. Then she recorded several singles, such as “Forever and Ever” in 1949, “Love Is Here to Stay” in 1951, and “There’s Poison In Your Heart” in 1953.

In 1954, she was hired as the vocalist for the renowned Harry James Orchestra. During her six years in that position, she “traveled to Europe, Latin America and across the nation.”

The similar name Jill was very trendy in the early ’50s — it reached the top 100 by the end of the decade (and stayed there for nearly 30 years) — but Jilla remained a mere one-hit wonder.

Do you like the name Jilla? Now that Willa is on the rise, do you think Jilla could catch on as a variant?

Sources:

Image: Clipping from the Lewiston Morning Tribune (22 Jun. 1961)