Ila Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EE-lah /iːˈlɑː/
Origin: Sanskrit; Hebrew
Meaning: Sanskrit: Earth; Hebrew: God is my light
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ila has its roots in ancient languages, primarily deriving from the Sanskrit word "ila," which means "earth" or "speech." This etymology highlights a connection to nature and communication, reflecting the significance of these elements in various cultures. The name has also been linked to the Hebrew name "Elah," meaning "oak tree," which carries connotations of strength and endurance.
The transition of the name into English likely occurred through various cultural exchanges and translations over centuries, particularly during periods of increased interaction between different linguistic groups. Historically, the name Ila appears in various mythological and literary contexts.
In Hindu mythology, Ila is a significant figure, often associated with the lunar deity Chandra and recognized for her role in the epic narratives of ancient texts. This connection to mythology underscores the name's cultural resonance in South Asian traditions, where it has been celebrated for its ties to divine and earthly themes.
The name's presence in literature and religious texts throughout the centuries has contributed to its enduring significance. In addition to its mythological roots, Ila has been embraced in various cultural contexts, often symbolizing harmony and balance between the earthly and celestial realms.
The name has been used in poetry and storytelling, further embedding it within the cultural fabric of societies that value nature and communication. Its associations with strength and resilience, particularly through its connections to trees and the earth, have allowed it to maintain a place in the lexicon of names that evoke a sense of grounding and stability.
While diminutive forms or variations may exist, the name Ila stands out in its own right, representing a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural depth.
Famous people named Ila
In this section, you will find notable people named Ila. 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 Ila who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ila 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.
Ila Stubbins is a singer best known for her work with the band The Shirelles.
Ila P. D. is a writer best known for her novels and contributions to contemporary literature.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ila, 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 Ila. 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 Ila was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Ila has ranked as high as #437 nationally, which occurred in 1925, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Alabama, Michigan, California, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Ila has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ila 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 Ila was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Ila (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 | 37 | |
| OH | 30 | |
| TX | 23 | |
| NC | 20 | |
| WI | 17 | |
| FL | 15 | |
| UT | 13 | |
| GA | 13 | |
| IL | 13 | |
| AZ | 13 | |
| IN | 13 | |
| AL | 11 | |
| MA | 10 | |
| VA | 10 | |
| PA | 10 |
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 Ila.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 419 |
| 2023 | 480 |
| 2022 | 428 |
| 2021 | 376 |
| 2020 | 311 |
| 2019 | 249 |
| 2018 | 183 |
| 2017 | 230 |
| 2016 | 199 |
| 2015 | 213 |
| 2014 | 203 |
| 2013 | 142 |
| 2012 | 150 |
| 2011 | 129 |
| 2010 | 155 |
| 2009 | 124 |
| 2008 | 109 |
| 2007 | 88 |
| 2006 | 90 |
| 2005 | 74 |
| 2004 | 60 |
| 2003 | 55 |
| 2002 | 43 |
| 2001 | 57 |
| 2000 | 38 |
| 1999 | 38 |
| 1998 | 25 |
| 1997 | 28 |
| 1996 | 30 |
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1994 | 25 |
| 1993 | 16 |
| 1992 | 19 |
| 1991 | 19 |
| 1990 | 24 |
| 1989 | 16 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1987 | 31 |
| 1986 | 20 |
| 1985 | 16 |
| 1984 | 29 |
| 1983 | 21 |
| 1982 | 24 |
| 1981 | 23 |
| 1980 | 28 |
| 1979 | 33 |
| 1978 | 27 |
| 1977 | 30 |
| 1976 | 25 |
| 1975 | 32 |
| 1974 | 26 |
| 1973 | 23 |
| 1972 | 27 |
| 1971 | 35 |
| 1970 | 24 |
| 1969 | 41 |
| 1968 | 36 |
| 1967 | 49 |
| 1966 | 42 |
| 1965 | 36 |
| 1964 | 55 |
| 1963 | 49 |
| 1962 | 70 |
| 1961 | 72 |
| 1960 | 57 |
| 1959 | 73 |
| 1958 | 89 |
| 1957 | 94 |
| 1956 | 83 |
| 1955 | 87 |
| 1954 | 81 |
| 1953 | 137 |
| 1952 | 144 |
| 1951 | 112 |
| 1950 | 133 |
| 1949 | 123 |
| 1948 | 143 |
| 1947 | 183 |
| 1946 | 147 |
| 1945 | 151 |
| 1944 | 172 |
| 1943 | 189 |
| 1942 | 229 |
| 1941 | 217 |
| 1940 | 212 |
| 1939 | 247 |
| 1938 | 299 |
| 1937 | 320 |
| 1936 | 310 |
| 1935 | 312 |
| 1934 | 367 |
| 1933 | 379 |
| 1932 | 427 |
| 1931 | 427 |
| 1930 | 451 |
| 1929 | 481 |
| 1928 | 524 |
| 1927 | 531 |
| 1926 | 487 |
| 1925 | 642 |
| 1924 | 577 |
| 1923 | 524 |
| 1922 | 576 |
| 1921 | 623 |
| 1920 | 561 |
| 1919 | 549 |
| 1918 | 564 |
| 1917 | 494 |
| 1916 | 513 |
| 1915 | 451 |
| 1914 | 376 |
| 1913 | 279 |
| 1912 | 274 |
| 1911 | 243 |
| 1910 | 199 |
| 1909 | 200 |
| 1908 | 196 |
| 1907 | 162 |
| 1906 | 146 |
| 1905 | 166 |
| 1904 | 143 |
| 1903 | 160 |
| 1902 | 154 |
| 1901 | 138 |
| 1900 | 177 |
| 1899 | 113 |
| 1898 | 114 |
| 1897 | 119 |
| 1896 | 126 |
| 1895 | 97 |
| 1894 | 112 |
| 1893 | 97 |
| 1892 | 93 |
| 1891 | 72 |
| 1890 | 63 |
| 1889 | 54 |
| 1888 | 49 |
| 1887 | 43 |
| 1886 | 45 |
| 1885 | 42 |
| 1884 | 29 |
| 1883 | 32 |
| 1882 | 25 |
| 1881 | 20 |
| 1880 | 15 |