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Skyler

♀ Girl

Pronounced SKY-ler /ˈskaɪ.lər/High

Meaning: Anglicized form of Dutch Schuyler, from Dutch schuylen meaning to take shelter or give shelter; the name was brought to America by Dutch settlers and anglicized to Skyler, with the sky association a folk etymologyHigh

In 30 seconds: An anglicized Dutch name meaning giving shelter, Skyler has risen sharply for girls since the 2010s, combining a breezy sky association with a surname-name coolness.
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Origin HighDutch, English
MeaningAnglicized form of Dutch Schuyler, from Dutch schuylen meaning to take shelter or give shelter; the name was brought to America by Dutch settlers and anglicized to Skyler, with the sky association a folk etymology
U.S. rank (2025)#671 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births422 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 27,686

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200019752025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Skyler is an anglicized spelling of the Dutch surname Schuyler, from Dutch schuylen, meaning to take shelter or to give shelter. The Schuyler family was prominent in colonial New York, and the surname became well known in American history. The anglicized spelling Skyler emerged in the 20th century and was at first used as a male given name, later moving to female use.

Skyler (and the alternate Skylar) rose sharply in the United States for girls in the 2010s, partly driven by the character Skyler White in the television series Breaking Bad (2008–2013). Today Skylar is the more common girls' spelling and Skyler is shared between boys and girls. The name's built-in sky association gives it an airy, aspirational quality beyond its Dutch etymology.

Did you know? The Dutch surname Schuyler was brought to America by Flemish settlers in New York in the 17th century — the prominent Schuyler family of New York included Philip Schuyler, an American Revolutionary War general and father-in-law of Alexander Hamilton.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Skyler — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

SkylarSchuyler

Nicknames

Sky

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Skyler…

Taylor— shares the same surname-name structure and the same unisex-to-female transition
Harper— fellow modern surname-name with the same breezy American girl-name energy
Riley— shares the same two-syllable surname-name transition and similar sound pattern
Peyton— another surname-name that moved from unisex to predominantly female use

Frequently Asked

What does the name Skyler mean?

Skyler comes from Dutch Schuyler meaning giving shelter. The sky connection is a folk etymology based on the anglicized spelling.

How do you pronounce Skyler?

It is said SKY-ler /ˈskaɪ.lər/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Skyler a girl or boy name?

Skyler was originally used for boys but is now predominantly a girls' name in the United States.

What is the difference between Skyler and Skylar?

Both are anglicized forms of Dutch Schuyler; Skylar has become the more popular girls' spelling while Skyler is used for both sexes.