Hala
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "halo" or "aura".
Name Census estimates that about 1,700 living Americans carry the first name Hala. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hala today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hala births was 2011 (70 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hala. 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
1.7K
~ 1 in 201,620 Americans
Peak year
2011
70 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
1919 SSA rank
#3,406
Tracked since 1887
Gender
Gender distribution for Hala
Out of the 1,763 babies given the name Hala since 1880, 99.6% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Hala as a male name
- Ranked #3,551 in 1919
- 7 male births in 1919
- Peak: 1919 (7 births)
Hala as a female name
- Ranked #3,406 in 2024
- 46 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2011 (70 births)
Popularity
Hala: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hala from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 591 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Hala remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hala 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 Hala during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Halas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 13 states and territories. California, Illinois, Texas recorded the most babies named Hala, while Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 33 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hala
The name Hala is an Arabic name that has its origins in the Middle East. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "halu," which means "sweet" or "pleasant." The name has been in use since ancient times and is found in various historical texts and records from the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hala can be found in the pre-Islamic poetry of the Arabian Peninsula. The name is mentioned in several ancient Arabic poems and verses, suggesting its widespread use among the Arab tribes of that era. It is also referenced in some early Islamic texts and manuscripts, indicating its continued popularity after the advent of Islam in the 7th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hala. One of the most famous was Hala bint Khuwaylid (c. 594 - c. 664), a prominent Arab poet and warrior from the Banu Amir tribe. She was renowned for her bravery and skill in battle, as well as her poetic talent. Her poems and verses have been preserved and are still studied by scholars of Arabic literature today.
Another historical figure with the name Hala was Hala bint al-Mudhaffar (c. 1140 - c. 1220), a renowned scholar and poet from Andalusia (present-day Spain). She was highly educated and well-versed in various fields, including literature, philosophy, and Islamic jurisprudence. Her works were widely acclaimed and influenced the intellectual and literary circles of her time.
In the medieval period, Hala bint al-Qadi (c. 1190 - c. 1260) was a prominent physician and scholar from Damascus. She was widely regarded for her expertise in medicine and her contributions to the field, particularly in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology. Her writings and treatises on medical topics were highly respected and influential.
Another notable figure with the name Hala was Hala bint al-Husayn (c. 1210 - c. 1280), a renowned mystic and Sufi poet from Baghdad. Her poetry and spiritual writings were highly regarded and had a significant impact on the development of Sufism in the region. Her works explored themes of divine love, mysticism, and the spiritual journey.
In more recent history, Hala Mustafa (1923 - 2021) was a prominent Egyptian writer and journalist. She was a pioneering figure in the field of journalism in Egypt and played a significant role in promoting women's rights and empowerment through her writing and activism. Her works addressed various social and political issues and had a lasting impact on Egyptian society.
People
Hala + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hala as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hala: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hala?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,700 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hala 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 201,620 US residents.
Is Hala a common name?
We classify Hala as "Rare". It ranks above 93% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,763 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hala most popular?
The single biggest year for Hala was 2011, when 70 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hala is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hala a female name?
Yes, 99.6% of people registered as Hala 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.