Capella as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Capella

What is the meaning of the name Capella ?

The baby name Capella is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced kuh-PEL-uh (IPA: /kəˈpɛlə/).

Capella is Latin in Origin.

Capella derives from Latin capella, “little she‑goat,” the diminutive of capra. In classical star lore, Capella names the brightest star in Auriga, the Charioteer, imagined as carrying a goat; Greek myth links it to Amalthea, the goat who suckled Zeus. The name therefore carries meanings of “little goat,” protection, and guiding light, reinforced by the star’s prominence across ancient catalogs and navigation traditions.

Used as a given name only rarely until the late 20th century, Capella now appeals in English-speaking countries as a celestial/nature choice; it remains essentially unisex though more common for girls. A homonymous line in Late Latin, cappella “chapel” (from cappa, “cloak”), yields associations with sacred space and the musical phrase a cappella. Variant spellings and cognates include Cappella (Italian), Capela (Portuguese), and Capella as a Catalan or Italian surname. Informal short forms include Ella, Cappy, and Pella.