Skyla
A feminine name derived from the word "sky", symbolizing vastness and freedom.
Name Census estimates that about 13,879 living Americans carry the first name Skyla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Skyla today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Skyla births was 2012 (604 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Skyla. 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.
Key insights
- • Skyla is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
14K
~ 1 in 24,696 Americans
Peak year
2012
604 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#850
Tracked since 1959
Popularity
Skyla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Skyla from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 5,608 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Skyla remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Skyla 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 Skyla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Skylas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 46 states and territories. New York, California, Texas recorded the most babies named Skyla, while South Dakota, Nebraska, Maine recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 262 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Skyla
The name Skyla is a relatively modern invention, likely derived from the English word "sky." It does not have a direct linguistic origin or history dating back to ancient times. However, there are a few theories about its potential inspiration and roots.
One possibility is that Skyla is a variation of the name Skylar, which itself is a combination of the words "sky" and "lark" (a type of bird). The name Skylar gained popularity in the late 20th century, particularly in the United States, and Skyla may have emerged as a spin-off or alternative spelling.
Another theory suggests that Skyla is a blend of the words "sky" and the Greek name "Lia," which means "bearer of good news." This combination could symbolize a connection to the heavens or a celestial connotation.
While Skyla may not have a rich historical background, it carries a whimsical and nature-inspired essence, evoking images of the vast expanse of the sky. Its modern origin means that there are no known references to the name in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records from earlier periods.
As for notable individuals named Skyla, the name is relatively uncommon, and there are not many famous figures bearing this name throughout history. However, here are a few examples of individuals with the first name Skyla:
1. Skyla Novea, an American actress known for her roles in television series such as "The Originals" and "Queen Sugar."
2. Skyla Violet, a Canadian singer-songwriter and music producer.
3. Skyla Madria, an American model and social media influencer.
4. Skyla Whitt, an American professional wrestler, also known as "Skyla Baby."
5. Skyla Vaughan, an American artist and painter known for her abstract and contemporary works.
It's important to note that due to the relatively modern origin of the name Skyla, there may not be extensive historical records or notable figures from earlier eras bearing this name. As a contemporary name, its usage and popularity may evolve over time, potentially leading to more individuals with this name gaining recognition in various fields.
People
Skyla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Skyla 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
Skyla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Skyla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13,879 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Skyla 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 24,696 US residents.
Is Skyla a common name?
We classify Skyla as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14,080 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Skyla most popular?
The single biggest year for Skyla was 2012, when 604 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Skyla is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Skyla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Skyla 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.