Kayla Girl

Popularity: #338 · 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.

KylieKaitlynKendraKiraKelseyKatherine

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.

MayaLaylaTaylaAylaZaylaNylaRayaSaila

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kayla was first seen in the United States in 1933.

Kayla has ranked as high as #37 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 838 0 838
2024 935 0 935
2023 952 0 952
2022 1,133 0 1,133
2021 1,217 0 1,217
2020 1,340 0 1,340
2019 1,618 5 1,613
2018 1,897 5 1,892
2017 2,128 0 2,128
2016 2,471 0 2,471
2015 2,740 0 2,740
2014 3,012 0 3,012
2013 3,268 7 3,261
2012 3,776 0 3,776
2011 4,341 5 4,336
2010 5,068 8 5,060
2009 5,853 6 5,847
2008 6,844 9 6,835
2007 7,597 14 7,583
2006 8,226 0 8,226
2005 8,640 20 8,620
2004 9,813 40 9,773
2003 10,980 23 10,957
2002 11,324 14 11,310
2001 11,909 17 11,892
2000 13,330 17 13,313
1999 13,316 24 13,292
1998 13,438 16 13,422
1997 13,899 14 13,885
1996 15,291 22 15,269
1995 16,107 20 16,087
1994 15,907 22 15,885
1993 15,477 24 15,453
1992 16,551 34 16,517
1991 18,580 35 18,545
1990 17,557 19 17,538
1989 14,950 47 14,903
1988 13,479 46 13,433
1987 10,593 17 10,576
1986 4,671 14 4,657
1985 2,624 16 2,608
1984 2,689 8 2,681
1983 3,533 6 3,527
1982 2,275 0 2,275
1981 317 0 317
1980 314 0 314
1979 256 0 256
1978 237 0 237
1977 226 0 226
1976 202 0 202
1975 185 0 185
1974 180 0 180
1973 149 0 149
1972 182 0 182
1971 167 0 167
1970 158 0 158
1969 192 0 192
1968 139 0 139
1967 135 0 135
1966 144 0 144
1965 147 0 147
1964 163 0 163
1963 156 0 156
1962 166 0 166
1961 116 0 116
1960 130 0 130
1959 116 0 116
1958 103 0 103
1957 101 0 101
1956 69 0 69
1955 67 0 67
1954 60 0 60
1953 49 0 49
1952 47 0 47
1951 51 0 51
1950 37 0 37
1949 24 0 24
1948 30 0 30
1947 16 0 16
1946 23 0 23
1945 11 0 11
1944 15 0 15
1943 12 0 12
1942 13 0 13
1941 11 0 11
1940 6 0 6
1939 9 0 9
1938 9 0 9
1937 6 0 6
1935 5 0 5
1933 6 0 6

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 174
19%
TX 96
11%
NY 80
9%
FL 72
8%
NJ 51
6%
IL 35
4%
PA 35
4%
MA 32
4%
OH 31
3%
MD 29
3%
MI 25
3%
IN 22
2%
VA 20
2%
NC 19
2%
GA 19
2%
WI 15
2%
IA 14
2%
WA 13
1%
MN 12
1%
SC 10
1%
AZ 9
1%
CT 9
1%
LA 9
1%
TN 8
1%
CO 8
1%
KS 8
1%
NV 7
1%
MO 6
1%
NE 6
1%
AR 6
1%
UT 5
1%
DC 5
1%
AL 5
1%
HI 5
1%