Kayla Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAY-lah //ˈkeɪ.lə//
Origin: Hebrew; Irish; English
Meaning: Hebrew: crown of laurels; Irish: slender; English: pure
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Kayla is believed to have multiple potential origins, with one of the most widely accepted theories tracing it back to the Hebrew name "Kelila," which means "crown of laurel." This Hebrew form likely influenced its adoption into English through various linguistic adaptations. Another possible origin is from the Irish name "Caela," which is derived from the Gaelic word "caol," meaning "slender" or "narrow." The transition into English likely occurred in the 20th century, as names from diverse cultural backgrounds began to gain popularity in English-speaking countries.
Historically, the name Kayla does not have significant references in ancient texts or notable historical figures, but its variants and related names can be found throughout various cultures. The use of names with similar sounds or meanings can be traced back to the 19th century, with the rise of interest in unique and phonetically appealing names.
The name's modern usage began to emerge prominently in the late 20th century, coinciding with a broader trend of adopting names that convey a sense of individuality and modernity. Culturally, Kayla has been associated with qualities such as beauty and grace, often symbolized by the laurel crown, which historically represented victory and honor in ancient Greece.
The name has also been embraced in various forms of media, contributing to its resonance in contemporary culture. While diminutive forms like Kay or Kaye exist, they are less commonly used in historical contexts.
Overall, Kayla's etymological roots and cultural associations reflect a blend of linguistic heritage and modern significance.
Famous people named Kayla
In this section, you will find notable people named Kayla. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Kayla who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Kayla who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Kayla Itsines is a fitness trainer best known for the Bikini Body Guide and the SWEAT app.
Kayla Ewell is an actress best known for The Vampire Diaries, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Forgotten.
Kayla Harrison is a judoka best known for winning Olympic gold medals and being a two-time world champion.
Kayla McBride is a professional basketball player best known for her time with the San Antonio Stars and the USA Women's National Team.
Kayla Rainey is a singer-songwriter best known for her work in the indie music scene.
Fictional characters named Kayla
The following list of fictional characters named Kayla is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Kayla is a fictional character from the video game series Life is Strange. She is a key character who influences the protagonist's journey through her relationships and choices.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kayla, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kayla. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Kayla was first seen in the United States in 1933.
Kayla has ranked as high as #36 nationally, which occurred in 1991, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Kayla has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Kayla is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kayla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Kayla (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 174 | |
| TX | 96 | |
| NY | 80 | |
| FL | 72 | |
| NJ | 51 | |
| PA | 35 | |
| IL | 35 | |
| MA | 32 | |
| OH | 31 | |
| MD | 29 | |
| IN | 22 | |
| VA | 20 | |
| NC | 19 | |
| GA | 19 | |
| WI | 15 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kayla.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 931 |
| 2023 | 952 |
| 2022 | 1,132 |
| 2021 | 1,216 |
| 2020 | 1,339 |
| 2019 | 1,612 |
| 2018 | 1,890 |
| 2017 | 2,127 |
| 2016 | 2,470 |
| 2015 | 2,740 |
| 2014 | 3,012 |
| 2013 | 3,260 |
| 2012 | 3,776 |
| 2011 | 4,336 |
| 2010 | 5,060 |
| 2009 | 5,847 |
| 2008 | 6,835 |
| 2007 | 7,583 |
| 2006 | 8,226 |
| 2005 | 8,620 |
| 2004 | 9,773 |
| 2003 | 10,957 |
| 2002 | 11,310 |
| 2001 | 11,892 |
| 2000 | 13,313 |
| 1999 | 13,292 |
| 1998 | 13,422 |
| 1997 | 13,885 |
| 1996 | 15,269 |
| 1995 | 16,087 |
| 1994 | 15,885 |
| 1993 | 15,452 |
| 1992 | 16,517 |
| 1991 | 18,545 |
| 1990 | 17,538 |
| 1989 | 14,904 |
| 1988 | 13,432 |
| 1987 | 10,579 |
| 1986 | 4,657 |
| 1985 | 2,608 |
| 1984 | 2,681 |
| 1983 | 3,527 |
| 1982 | 2,276 |
| 1981 | 317 |
| 1980 | 314 |
| 1979 | 256 |
| 1978 | 237 |
| 1977 | 226 |
| 1976 | 202 |
| 1975 | 185 |
| 1974 | 180 |
| 1973 | 149 |
| 1972 | 182 |
| 1971 | 168 |
| 1970 | 158 |
| 1969 | 192 |
| 1968 | 139 |
| 1967 | 135 |
| 1966 | 144 |
| 1965 | 147 |
| 1964 | 163 |
| 1963 | 156 |
| 1962 | 166 |
| 1961 | 116 |
| 1960 | 130 |
| 1959 | 116 |
| 1958 | 103 |
| 1957 | 101 |
| 1956 | 69 |
| 1955 | 67 |
| 1954 | 60 |
| 1953 | 49 |
| 1952 | 47 |
| 1951 | 51 |
| 1950 | 37 |
| 1949 | 24 |
| 1948 | 30 |
| 1947 | 16 |
| 1946 | 23 |
| 1945 | 11 |
| 1944 | 15 |
| 1943 | 12 |
| 1942 | 13 |
| 1941 | 11 |
| 1940 | 6 |
| 1939 | 9 |
| 1938 | 9 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1935 | 5 |
| 1933 | 6 |