Twyla Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TWI-lah //ˈtwaɪ.lə//
Origin: English; American
Meaning: Twilight; dusk
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Twyla is believed to have originated in the United States during the 20th century, with its roots linked to the English word "twilight," which denotes the soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon. The etymology suggests a connection to the Old English term "twi-" meaning "two" or "half," combined with "light," reflecting the transitional time of day.
This connection to twilight evokes imagery of beauty and mystery, contributing to the name's appeal. Historically, the name Twyla gained prominence in the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s, when it was popularized by American culture, including literature and the arts.
One notable figure associated with the name is Twyla Tharp, an influential American dancer and choreographer who emerged in the 1960s, further embedding the name within the cultural landscape of the time. While Twyla does not have extensive historical references like some older names, its emergence coincided with a period of artistic innovation and exploration in the United States.
Culturally, Twyla carries connotations of grace and creativity, often associated with the arts due to its connection to figures like Tharp. The name's association with twilight also lends it a sense of tranquility and beauty, resonating with themes of transition and change.
Although diminutive forms are not widely recognized, the name's unique sound and imagery have contributed to its lasting presence in American naming practices.
Famous people named Twyla
In this section, you will find notable people named Twyla. 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 Twyla who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Twyla 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.
Twyla Tharp is a choreographer and dancer best known for Movin' Out, The Times They Are A-Changin', and Come Fly Away.
Twyla Paris is a singer and songwriter best known for her albums Blue Ice and The Warrior Is a Child.
Fictional characters named Twyla
The following list of fictional characters named Twyla 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.
Twyla is a fictional character from the animated television series Monster High. She is a student at Monster High and is known for her unique style and love of music.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Twyla, 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 Twyla. 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 Twyla was first seen in the United States in 1905.
Twyla has ranked as high as #934 nationally, which occurred in 1964, and has been most popular in Iowa, California, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Twyla has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Twyla 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 Twyla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Twyla (2023)
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 | 7 |
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 Twyla.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 38 |
| 2023 | 57 |
| 2022 | 60 |
| 2021 | 58 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2016 | 27 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2014 | 33 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2010 | 33 |
| 2009 | 34 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2005 | 30 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2000 | 24 |
| 1999 | 21 |
| 1998 | 21 |
| 1997 | 20 |
| 1996 | 27 |
| 1995 | 15 |
| 1994 | 26 |
| 1993 | 30 |
| 1992 | 32 |
| 1991 | 25 |
| 1990 | 32 |
| 1989 | 39 |
| 1988 | 40 |
| 1987 | 50 |
| 1986 | 52 |
| 1985 | 38 |
| 1984 | 65 |
| 1983 | 62 |
| 1982 | 55 |
| 1981 | 60 |
| 1980 | 71 |
| 1979 | 96 |
| 1978 | 83 |
| 1977 | 96 |
| 1976 | 89 |
| 1975 | 78 |
| 1974 | 78 |
| 1973 | 73 |
| 1972 | 92 |
| 1971 | 106 |
| 1970 | 115 |
| 1969 | 113 |
| 1968 | 105 |
| 1967 | 101 |
| 1966 | 99 |
| 1965 | 120 |
| 1964 | 194 |
| 1963 | 137 |
| 1962 | 142 |
| 1961 | 155 |
| 1960 | 167 |
| 1959 | 142 |
| 1958 | 140 |
| 1957 | 152 |
| 1956 | 147 |
| 1955 | 121 |
| 1954 | 118 |
| 1953 | 100 |
| 1952 | 116 |
| 1951 | 103 |
| 1950 | 105 |
| 1949 | 93 |
| 1948 | 73 |
| 1947 | 93 |
| 1946 | 72 |
| 1945 | 60 |
| 1944 | 64 |
| 1943 | 62 |
| 1942 | 50 |
| 1941 | 69 |
| 1940 | 57 |
| 1939 | 75 |
| 1938 | 67 |
| 1937 | 64 |
| 1936 | 66 |
| 1935 | 59 |
| 1934 | 59 |
| 1933 | 68 |
| 1932 | 61 |
| 1931 | 64 |
| 1930 | 73 |
| 1929 | 61 |
| 1928 | 50 |
| 1927 | 62 |
| 1926 | 47 |
| 1925 | 65 |
| 1924 | 54 |
| 1923 | 53 |
| 1922 | 45 |
| 1921 | 42 |
| 1920 | 42 |
| 1919 | 39 |
| 1918 | 38 |
| 1917 | 23 |
| 1916 | 33 |
| 1915 | 28 |
| 1914 | 17 |
| 1913 | 7 |
| 1912 | 14 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1908 | 7 |
| 1907 | 8 |
| 1906 | 6 |
| 1905 | 6 |