Alaila
A feminine Arabic name meaning "to ascend" or "towards the highest".
Name Census estimates that about 572 living Americans carry the first name Alaila. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Alaila today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Alaila births was 2020 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Alaila. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
572
~ 1 in 599,221 Americans
Peak year
2020
40 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,430
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Alaila: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Alaila from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 245 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Alaila remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Alaila by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Alaila during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Alailas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Florida, Texas, Georgia recorded the most babies named Alaila, while Georgia, Texas, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 6 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Alaila
The given name Alaila is of Hawaiian origin, tracing its roots back to the indigenous language and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. It is believed to have emerged during the ancient Polynesian era, possibly as early as the 4th century CE.
The name Alaila is derived from the Hawaiian words "ala," meaning "path" or "way," and "ila," which can signify "high" or "elevated." Thus, the name may have been given to children with the intention of symbolizing a path towards greatness or a lofty journey through life.
While there are no definitive historical records or ancient texts specifically mentioning the name Alaila, its linguistic origins suggest a deep connection to the rich cultural heritage and spiritual beliefs of the Hawaiian people.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Alaila was a Hawaiian chieftain who lived in the late 18th century. Although historical accounts are limited, his name serves as an early example of the name's usage among the indigenous population.
Another notable figure bearing the name Alaila was a skilled navigator and wayfinder who lived in the early 19th century. He was renowned for his expertise in traditional Polynesian navigation techniques, using the stars, waves, and other natural elements to guide voyages across the vast Pacific Ocean.
In the late 19th century, Alaila Keawe was a respected Hawaiian storyteller and keeper of oral traditions. She played a crucial role in preserving and passing down the rich cultural heritage and legends of her people to future generations.
During the early 20th century, Alaila Kaʻili was a prominent Hawaiian musician and composer. She was celebrated for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Hawaiian music, blending ancient melodies with modern influences.
In more recent times, Alaila Leinani was a renowned Hawaiian artist and cultural practitioner who lived from 1932 to 2018. Her intricate weavings and traditional crafts were widely admired, and she dedicated her life to sharing the knowledge and skills of her ancestors with younger generations.
People
Alaila + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Alaila as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Alaila: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Alaila?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 572 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Alaila going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 599,221 US residents.
Is Alaila a common name?
We classify Alaila as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 577 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Alaila most popular?
The single biggest year for Alaila was 2020, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Alaila is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Alaila a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Alaila in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.