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Loyola
Pronounced loy-OH-lah /lɔɪˈoʊ.lə/Medium
Meaning: Loyola comes from a Basque place-name, the ancestral home of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the sixteenth-century founder of the Jesuits. As a given name it is devotional, honoring the saint and the many Loyola colleges and universities named for him, rather than carrying a personal-name meaning.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Loyola is rooted in a Basque place, the birthplace of Inigo, known as St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. Devout Catholic families adopted it as a given name in his honor, an echo of the saint and the schools that bear his name.
In United States records Loyola as a first name was most common in the early twentieth century, especially in Catholic families, then faded to rarity by mid-century. A woman given it at its peak belongs to a great-grandmother's generation.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Loyola mean?
Loyola is from the Basque place-name Loyola, given in honor of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
How do you pronounce Loyola?
It's said loy-OH-lah /lɔɪˈoʊ.lə/, three syllables, stress on the second.
Is Loyola a boy or girl name?
Loyola is used here as a girl's name.
Is Loyola a popular name?
No, it is a vintage rarity, most often heard in Catholic families in the early twentieth century.