Find out how popular the first name Kayla has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kayla by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kayla is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Kayla being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 951 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kayla.

The history of the first name Kayla

The name Kayla originated from the Hebrew name Kaye, which means "beloved" or "laurel plant." It gained popularity in the United States and other English-speaking countries in the late 20th century as a feminine form of the name Kyle.

The earliest recorded use of the name Kayla can be traced back to the 1960s in the United States. It is believed to have been derived from the Hebrew root "k-y-l," which means "crown" or "wreath."

In ancient texts, the name Kayla is not found, as it is a relatively modern name. However, the root "k-y-l" is present in several Hebrew names, such as Keila and Kalila.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Kayla was Kayla Baxter-Smedley, an American swimmer born in 1982. She won a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Another famous Kayla is Kayla Harrison, an American judoka and mixed martial artist born in 1990. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, having won at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

In the entertainment industry, Kayla Ewell, an American actress born in 1985, is known for her roles in various television series, including "The Vampire Diaries" and "Batwoman."

Kayla Rae Reid, an American model born in 1991, gained recognition for her relationship with actor Ryan Lochte and their marriage in 2018.

Lastly, Kayla Treanor, an American lacrosse player born in 1994, is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. She led Syracuse University to two NCAA Division I national championships in 2014 and 2015.

While the name Kayla is relatively new, it has gained widespread popularity and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, from sports to entertainment.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kayla was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kayla, please contact us.

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