Kayla Girl

Popularity: #308 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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
20%
TX 96
11%
NY 80
9%
FL 72
8%
NJ 51
6%
PA 35
4%
IL 35
4%
MA 32
4%
OH 31
4%
MD 29
3%
IN 22
3%
VA 20
2%
NC 19
2%
GA 19
2%
WI 15
2%

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.

YearBirths
2024931
2023952
20221,132
20211,216
20201,339
20191,612
20181,890
20172,127
20162,470
20152,740
20143,012
20133,260
20123,776
20114,336
20105,060
20095,847
20086,835
20077,583
20068,226
20058,620
20049,773
200310,957
200211,310
200111,892
200013,313
199913,292
199813,422
199713,885
199615,269
199516,087
199415,885
199315,452
199216,517
199118,545
199017,538
198914,904
198813,432
198710,579
19864,657
19852,608
19842,681
19833,527
19822,276
1981317
1980314
1979256
1978237
1977226
1976202
1975185
1974180
1973149
1972182
1971168
1970158
1969192
1968139
1967135
1966144
1965147
1964163
1963156
1962166
1961116
1960130
1959116
1958103
1957101
195669
195567
195460
195349
195247
195151
195037
194924
194830
194716
194623
194511
194415
194312
194213
194111
19406
19399
19389
19376
19355
19336