Xylah
A unique name of uncertain origin, perhaps inspired by the Greek word "xylon" meaning wood.
Name Census estimates that about 473 living Americans carry the first name Xylah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Xylah today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Xylah births was 2023 (96 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Xylah. 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
473
~ 1 in 724,639 Americans
Peak year
2023
96 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,375
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Xylah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Xylah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 308 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Xylah 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 Xylah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Xylahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Xylah, while New York, Illinois, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 17 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Xylah
The name Xylah is a relatively modern invention, and its origins are not entirely clear. It is believed to have been created in the late 20th century, likely as a variant of the name Xyla, which itself is a feminine form of the Greek name Xylos, meaning "wood" or "timber."
Some sources suggest that Xylah may have been derived from the Greek word "xylon," which also means "wood" or "tree." This could potentially link the name to themes of nature, growth, and strength. However, there is no definitive historical record of the name's usage or meaning prior to its emergence in recent decades.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Xylah are from the late 1900s and early 2000s. It is believed to have been initially used as a given name for baby girls in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States and Canada. However, it is a relatively uncommon name, and its popularity has remained limited.
In terms of historical references or notable individuals bearing the name Xylah, there are no significant examples to mention. Given its recent origin and rarity, there are no well-known figures from ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records who carried this particular name.
It is worth noting that while the name Xylah itself may not have a rich historical background, its potential connection to the Greek word "xylon" could be seen as evoking a sense of strength, resilience, and connection to nature. However, these associations are speculative and based on the name's linguistic roots rather than any documented historical or cultural significance.
People
Xylah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Xylah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with X
Other first names starting with X with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Xylah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Xylah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 473 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Xylah 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 724,639 US residents.
Is Xylah a common name?
We classify Xylah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 476 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Xylah most popular?
The single biggest year for Xylah was 2023, when 96 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Xylah is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Xylah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Xylah 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.