Ayla
Ayla is a girl's name of Turkish origin.
Meaning
Moonlight, halo of light around the moon, or oak tree.
Origin and history
Ayla is a feminine name with roots in multiple cultures, most notably Turkish, where it means 'halo of light around the moon', and Hebrew, where it is associated with an oak tree or terebinth. It has seen a massive surge in popularity in the United States since the 2000s, becoming a modern favorite. Its soft vowel sounds align well with contemporary American naming trends.
Popularity in the United States
38,040 babies in the United States have been named Ayla since 1880. It ranks #713 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #102.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13 %)
- TX (7.2 %)
- NY (6.3 %)
- FL (6 %)
- PA (3.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 6 |
| 1970-1980 | 15 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,058 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,431 |
| 2000-2010 | 5,637 |
| 2010-2019 | 12,566 |
| 2020-2029 | 16,327 |
Famous people named Ayla
- Ayla Kell: Actress, Dancer
- Ayla Brown: Singer, Athlete
Fun facts
- The name gained widespread global awareness through the heroine Ayla in Jean M. Auel's popular prehistoric fiction series Earth's Children.
- It has independent, well-established roots in both Turkish and Hebrew linguistic traditions.
- Nearly half of all U.S. births registered with the name Ayla since 1880 have occurred since 2020.