Kila
Hawaiian feminine name meaning "tree tree" or "tree branch".
Name Census estimates that about 883 living Americans carry the first name Kila. It is a predominantly female name (99.5% of registrations). The average person named Kila today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kila births was 1972 (60 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kila. 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
883
~ 1 in 388,170 Americans
Peak year
1972
60 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
1972 SSA rank
#5,387
Tracked since 1957
Gender
Gender distribution for Kila
Out of the 931 babies given the name Kila since 1880, 99.5% 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.
Kila as a male name
- Ranked #5,387 in 1972
- 5 male births in 1972
- Peak: 1972 (5 births)
Kila as a female name
- Ranked #12,777 in 2024
- 7 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1972 (55 births)
Popularity
Kila: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kila from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 242 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
Kila 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 Kila during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kilas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kila
The name Kila is believed to have originated from the Hawaiian language, where it is derived from the word "kila," meaning "to look" or "to observe." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals with a keen sense of observation or those who were known for their watchful nature.
In Hawaiian culture, names often carried significant meaning and were chosen carefully to reflect the characteristics or qualities of an individual. The name Kila could have been bestowed upon children with a curious and observant disposition, or those who were perceived as having a keen eye for details.
Historically, the name Kila has been documented in various Hawaiian records and texts, although its earliest recorded use is unclear. It is possible that the name was in use among the indigenous Hawaiian population long before written records were kept.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Kila was a Hawaiian chief who lived in the late 18th century. Kila was a prominent figure in the Hawaiian islands and played a significant role in the events surrounding the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778.
Another notable figure with the name Kila was a Hawaiian scholar and historian who lived in the 19th century. Kila was renowned for his extensive knowledge of Hawaiian traditions, customs, and genealogies, and he contributed greatly to preserving Hawaiian culture and history.
In the 20th century, Kila Kamana'o was a revered Hawaiian musician and composer who was instrumental in reviving and perpetuating traditional Hawaiian music. Born in 1904 and passing away in 1990, Kamana'o's compositions and performances played a crucial role in preserving the rich musical heritage of Hawaii.
Kila Ka'aihue, born in 1984, is a former professional baseball player who played for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics. He was known for his power-hitting abilities and his dedication to the game.
Lastly, Kila Peeters is a contemporary Belgian fashion designer and artist. Born in 1986, Peeters has gained recognition for her innovative and sustainable approach to fashion design, incorporating traditional techniques and materials into her work.
While the name Kila may not be as common globally as some other names, it holds significant cultural and historical significance within the Hawaiian community, reflecting the rich heritage and traditions of the islands.
People
Kila + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kila as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kila: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kila?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 883 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kila 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 388,170 US residents.
Is Kila a common name?
We classify Kila as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 931 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kila most popular?
The single biggest year for Kila was 1972, when 60 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kila is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kila a female name?
Yes, 99.5% of people registered as Kila 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.