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Marcela

Girl name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Marcela: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2024.

Marcela is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Slavic feminine form of the Roman family name Marcellus, itself a diminutive of Marcus, which is thought to derive from Mars, the Roman god of war, giving the name a meaning of "dedicated to Mars" or "warlike." One of its most famous bearers is the Mexican actress Marcela Guirado, known for her work in telenovelas, while the name also appears in literature through Marcela, a character in Miguel de Cervantes' *Don Quixote* who famously rejects the protagonist's advances. The name shares its root with the French Marcelle and the Italian Marcella, and while it has no direct place connections, the related masculine form Marcel is linked to the French city of Saint-Marcel. In Scotland, Marcela remains a relatively rare but elegant choice, often chosen by families with Hispanic or Slavic heritage.