Kayla
Kayla is a girls' name of English origin meaning “a modern blend of Kay and -la.” It ranked #364 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Kayla?
KAY-lah
where does the name Kayla come from?
A modern English coinage rather than an old name. It is generally explained as Kay combined with the -la ending, possibly on the pattern of Layla, or as a shortening of Michaela.
Kayla is a modern English name, usually explained as Kay with the -la ending of names like Layla, or as a short form of Michaela. Its use grew in the 1980s after the soap opera Days of Our Lives introduced the character Kayla Brady, and it has been influenced by similar-sounding names such as Kaylee.
how popular is this name?
Kayla has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 66 years since 1959, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #11 in 1995, and ranked #364 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #364 |
| 2024 | #336 |
| 2023 | #324 |
| 2022 | #279 |
| 2021 | #254 |
| 2020 | #215 |
| 2019 | #182 |
| 2018 | #149 |
| 2017 | #138 |
| 2016 | #129 |
| 2010 | #49 |
| 2000 | #13 |
| 1995 | #11 |
| 1990 | #14 |
| 1980 | #589 |
| 1970 | #853 |
| 1960 | #934 |
| 1959 | #982 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Kayla fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Kayla
Kayla came into wide use in the 1980s, after the character Kayla Brady appeared on the American soap opera Days of Our Lives.
who are famous people named Kayla?
- Kayla Itsines (Australian fitness personality)
- Kayla Harrison (American Olympic judo champion)
what are the nicknames and variants of Kayla?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Kayla?
what names go well with Kayla?
Sibling names that share Kayla's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Kayla
What does the name Kayla mean?
Kayla means “a modern blend of Kay and -la”.
What is the origin of the name Kayla?
Kayla comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Kaila.
How popular is the name Kayla?
Kayla ranked #364 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1995, at #11, and it has spent 66 years in the top 1,000 since 1959.
Is Kayla a boy or girl name?
Kayla is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Kayla?
Kayla is pronounced KAY-lah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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