Meaning and history
Ayla has several distinct origins: in Turkish it means moonlight or halo, while the Hebrew form is related to a word for a terebinth or oak tree. The name also entered modern English usage through Jean M. Auel's 1980 novel The Clan of the Cave Bear. Notable bearers include singer and former basketball player Ayla Brown and actress Ayla Kell.
20062006: 1,233 births, rank #265
2007: 864 births, rank #381
2008: 796 births, rank #406
2009: 793 births, rank #396
2010: 914 births, rank #351
20112011: 925 births, rank #347
2012: 1,295 births, rank #250
2013: 1,110 births, rank #289
2014: 1,188 births, rank #277
2015: 1,205 births, rank #265
20162016: 1,237 births, rank #258
2017: 1,358 births, rank #233
2018: 1,587 births, rank #190
2019: 1,747 births, rank #162
2020: 2,025 births, rank #131
20212021: 2,581 births, rank #108
2022: 2,758 births, rank #98
2023: 2,561 births, rank #106
2024: 3,253 births, rank #69
20252025: 3,149 births, rank #77
Ayla has risen sharply in the modern US rankings, moving from #874 in 2000 to #77 in 2025. It now stands at #77 for girls. Its highest annual birth count came in 2024, with 3,253 births.