Kayla
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Kayla is a Hebrew name meaning “laurel”. It is a popular name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.98% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Kayla
Kayla is a modern given name of debated origin, often cited as a Hebrew derivative meaning 'laurel' or 'crown' by connection to the name Kaila. It emerged in the late twentieth century as a distinct entity within English-speaking naming conventions. Lacking a unified historical root, it is primarily recognized as a contemporary invention popularized during the 1980s.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Kayla
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Kayla is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.98% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Kayla
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Kayla is listed under Popular Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Popular | 1 in every 860 births |
| United Kingdom | Popular | 1 in every 3.1K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 962 births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 1.7K births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Kayla ranked #224 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It rose from #353 in 2024 — an improvement of 129 places. Kayla maintains a steady presence among commonly used names.
Historically, its best recorded position was #17 in 1991. Its lowest recorded position was #2,046 in 1952. Over the last 8 years (2017–2025) the name fell 8 places (from #166 to #224).
Name StyleMethodology
Kayla is classified as Classic Girl Names because it appears in 66% of available years and remains active today, averaging 1,352 births per year after a historical peak in 1991.Characteristics of the Name Kayla
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 5 letters — Medium-Length Girl Names
- Starts with
- K — Girl Names Starting with K
- Ends with
- a — Girl Names Ending in “a”
Name AestheticMethodology
Kayla is a two-syllable name characterized by a strong initial stress and an open terminal vowel. Its rapid rise in late 20th-century popular culture gives it a Bright & Joyful disposition. The name reflects a distinct shift toward modern phonetic trends.
Middle Names For Kayla
Middle names used with KaylaMethodology
Kayla is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Kayla Marie · Kayla Nicole · Kayla Elizabeth · Kayla Michelle · Kayla AnnView all 1,716 girl middle names.
- Total 2,259 middle names used with Kayla
- 108 boy middle names used with Kayla
- 348 unisex middle names used with Kayla
Middle name suggestions for KaylaMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Kayla is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “m”.
Examples: Kayla Moore · Kayla Mills · Kayla Marsh · Kayla Marks · Kayla Moose. View all 101 suggested middle names.
Associations of the Name Kayla
Natural Name MatchesMethodology
The complete dataset includes 1 biological record matching the name Kayla. None belong to the curated biological families used to classify Flower-, Tree-, or Bird-Inspired Names. This record is provided for reference only.
Names Similar to Kayla
Sound Like Kayla Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Kelly · Gail · Kaylee · View all Top 100 names
Spelled Like Kayla Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Kaylah · Kaylea · Kaylia · View all 13 names
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Karen · Kimberly · Carol · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Kayla Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Patricia · Linda · Barbara · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Mary · Linda · Sarah · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Kayla”
Dictionary Meaning of "Kayla"Methodology
A female given name
Examples
- Kayla's look tended to change with the seasons; at the moment it was less Goth than paramilitary, with laced jump boots.
More Info
How to Spell Kayla in ASL
- K
- a
- y
- l
- a
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