Takayla
A variant spelling of the feminine name Takayla, believed to be of Native American origin.
Name Census estimates that about 1,029 living Americans carry the first name Takayla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Takayla today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Takayla births was 2004 (73 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Takayla. 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
1.0K
~ 1 in 333,095 Americans
Peak year
2004
73 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2022 SSA rank
#17,481
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Takayla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Takayla from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 587 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
Takayla 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 Takayla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Takaylas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 12 states and territories. Illinois, Florida, Georgia recorded the most babies named Takayla, while South Carolina, Arkansas, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 24 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Takayla
The name Takayla is believed to have originated from Native American cultures, specifically the Sioux tribe. It is a combination of the words "taka," meaning "deer," and "yla," meaning "she." The name first appeared in historical records around the 16th century, during the early European exploration of North America.
In some Native American traditions, the name Takayla was given to young girls who were seen as graceful and gentle, much like a deer. The name carried a symbolic meaning, representing the beauty and elegance of nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Takayla can be found in the journals of French explorer Jacques Cartier. In his expedition through the St. Lawrence River in 1535, he encountered a young Native American girl named Takayla, whom he described as "a maiden of great beauty and kindness."
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Takayla. One of the most famous was Takayla Whitefeather (c. 1780-1865), a Sioux woman who played a crucial role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She served as a guide and interpreter, helping the explorers navigate through the unfamiliar territories of the American West.
Another prominent figure was Takayla Littlefeather (1946-2022), a Native American actress and activist. She is best known for her appearance at the 1973 Academy Awards, where she declined Marlon Brando's Best Actor award on his behalf, bringing attention to the portrayal of Native Americans in the film industry and their mistreatment by the U.S. government.
In the realm of literature, Takayla Bearspaw (1902-1989) was a celebrated author and poet from the Blackfeet Nation. Her works explored themes of Native American culture, traditions, and the struggles faced by her people in the modern world.
Another notable figure was Takayla Windwalker (1920-2005), a renowned artist and sculptor from the Navajo Nation. Her intricate works captured the beauty and spirituality of Native American culture, earning her widespread recognition and numerous awards.
Lastly, Takayla Rainbowchild (1955-2018) was a prominent activist and advocate for Native American rights. She dedicated her life to preserving indigenous cultures, fighting against environmental injustices, and promoting education and healthcare for Native American communities.
People
Takayla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Takayla 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
Takayla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Takayla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,029 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Takayla 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 333,095 US residents.
Is Takayla a common name?
We classify Takayla as "Rare". It ranks above 90.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,048 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Takayla most popular?
The single biggest year for Takayla was 2004, when 73 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Takayla is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Takayla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Takayla 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.