Taila
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "oil" or "olive oil".
Name Census estimates that about 276 living Americans carry the first name Taila. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Taila today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Taila births was 1995 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Taila. 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
276
~ 1 in 1,241,864 Americans
Peak year
1995
15 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,058
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Taila: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Taila from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 99 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Taila 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 Taila during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Taila
The name Taila has its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India, with roots dating back to the 1st millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Taila," which means "oil" or "ghee." This name is believed to have been given to individuals associated with the production, trade, or consumption of oils and ghee, which were integral parts of various rituals, ceremonies, and daily life in ancient India.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Taila can be found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads. These sacred scriptures contain references to individuals bearing this name, often in the context of religious practices and rituals involving the use of oils and ghee.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Taila was Taila the Grammarian, a renowned Sanskrit scholar who lived in the 7th century CE. He is celebrated for his work on the grammar and linguistic structure of the Sanskrit language, which played a pivotal role in preserving and propagating the rich literary and cultural heritage of ancient India.
In the realm of spirituality, Taila Upanishad, a minor Upanishad of Hinduism, is believed to have been composed between the 5th and 8th centuries CE. This text delves into the philosophical and metaphysical aspects of the universe, drawing upon the symbolism and significance of oils and ghee in various rituals.
During the medieval period, the name Taila was often associated with individuals involved in the production and trade of oils and ghee. One such figure was Taila the Merchant, a renowned trader from the 12th century CE who established a flourishing business network spanning across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.
Another notable individual bearing the name Taila was Taila the Poet, a celebrated literary figure from the 16th century CE. He was renowned for his compositions in various poetic forms, often drawing inspiration from the natural world and the intricate symbolism associated with oils and ghee in Hindu mythology and philosophy.
Throughout history, the name Taila has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, merchants, poets, and spiritual leaders. Despite its ancient origins, the name continues to be used in various parts of South Asia, carrying with it the rich cultural and historical significance of its Sanskrit roots.
People
Taila + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Taila as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Taila: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Taila?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 276 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Taila 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 1,241,864 US residents.
Is Taila a common name?
We classify Taila as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 282 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Taila most popular?
The single biggest year for Taila was 1995, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Taila is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Taila a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Taila 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.