Hayla
A feminine Arabic name meaning "bright as the moon" or "halo".
Name Census estimates that about 455 living Americans carry the first name Hayla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hayla today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hayla births was 2009 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hayla. 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
455
~ 1 in 753,306 Americans
Peak year
2009
27 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,130
Tracked since 1987
Popularity
Hayla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hayla from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 200 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hayla 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 Hayla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Haylas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Hayla
The name Hayla is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, with roots tracing back to the Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the Arabic word "haylah," which means "beautiful" or "graceful." This name has been in use since ancient times, with records indicating its presence in various regions of the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest known references to the name Hayla can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature. The name is mentioned in several works from the 7th and 8th centuries, often used to describe the beauty and elegance of a woman or a beloved. It is possible that the name gained popularity during this period, as it resonated with the cultural values and aesthetic ideals of the time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hayla. One of the earliest recorded examples is Hayla bint al-Hudhayl (born around 590 CE), a renowned Arabic poetess from the pre-Islamic era. Her poetry celebrated the virtues of courage, honor, and loyalty, and she is considered one of the most influential female poets of her time.
Another historical figure who carried the name Hayla was Hayla bint Abi Talib (born around 615 CE), the daughter of Abu Talib and the paternal aunt of the Prophet Muhammad. She is remembered for her unwavering support and loyalty to her nephew, and her acceptance of Islam is seen as a significant event in early Islamic history.
In the 10th century, Hayla al-Muhallabiyya (born around 920 CE) was a prominent female scholar and poet from Baghdad. She was renowned for her expertise in Arabic literature and her contributions to the intellectual circles of the Abbasid Caliphate.
During the late medieval period, Hayla al-Andalusiyya (born around 1140 CE) was a renowned Andalusian poet and scholar from Spain. Her works were highly regarded for their elegance and depth, and she was celebrated for her mastery of various literary forms.
More recently, Hayla Ghazi (born in 1880) was a Syrian poet and writer who played a significant role in the Arab literary renaissance of the early 20th century. Her works explored themes of love, patriotism, and social reform, and she is considered a pioneering figure in modern Arabic literature.
While these are just a few examples, the name Hayla has been carried by many notable individuals throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and intellectual traditions across the Middle East and beyond.
People
Hayla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hayla 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
Hayla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hayla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 455 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hayla 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 753,306 US residents.
Is Hayla a common name?
We classify Hayla as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 462 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hayla most popular?
The single biggest year for Hayla was 2009, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hayla is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hayla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hayla 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.