Shyla
A feminine name derived from French, meaning "woods" or "forest".
Name Census estimates that about 7,717 living Americans carry the first name Shyla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shyla today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shyla births was 2008 (365 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shyla. 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
7.7K
~ 1 in 44,415 Americans
Peak year
2008
365 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,888
Tracked since 1942
Popularity
Shyla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shyla from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 2,581 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
Shyla 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 Shyla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shylas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 40 states and territories. California, Florida, Texas recorded the most babies named Shyla, while West Virginia, Utah, Connecticut recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 124 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shyla
The name Shyla is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, with roots dating back to ancient India. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Shila," which means "rock" or "stone." It is thought to have been used as a name to convey strength, resilience, and stability.
In Hindu mythology, there are references to Shila as a name associated with the goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the name was used to describe her unwavering devotion and her ability to stand firm like a rock in the face of adversity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shyla can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this text, Shyla is mentioned as the name of a warrior princess who fought alongside her brothers in a great battle.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shyla. One of the earliest was Shyla Devi (c. 1050-1120), a renowned poet and scholar from medieval India. Her works were widely celebrated for their depth and beauty, and she is considered a pioneer in the field of Sanskrit literature.
Another notable Shyla was Shyla Vijayavargiya (1809-1887), an influential social reformer and educator from Rajasthan, India. She dedicated her life to the empowerment of women and girls through education and was instrumental in establishing several schools and educational institutions.
In the realm of performing arts, Shyla Ghose (1923-2014) was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer. Her contributions to the art form of Kathak dance earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.
Moving to more contemporary times, Shyla Stylez (1984-2017) was an American adult film actress and model. Despite the controversial nature of her profession, she was recognized for her outspoken advocacy for sex workers' rights and her efforts to destigmatize the adult entertainment industry.
Lastly, Shyla Heal (b. 1994) is a professional basketball player from Australia. She has represented her country in various international competitions and is known for her exceptional shooting skills and leadership on the court.
While the name Shyla has its roots in ancient Sanskrit, it has transcended cultural boundaries and found its place in various parts of the world, with individuals from diverse backgrounds carrying this name with pride and making their mark in various fields.
People
Shyla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shyla as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Shyla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shyla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7,717 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shyla 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 44,415 US residents.
Is Shyla a common name?
We classify Shyla as "Rare". It ranks above 97.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7,946 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shyla most popular?
The single biggest year for Shyla was 2008, when 365 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shyla is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shyla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shyla 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.