Okla

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Okla

Pronounced OH-kluh /ˈoʊ.klə/Low

Meaning: Okla is an early-1900s American name best explained as a short, place-inspired coinage echoing Oklahoma. The state's name comes from the Choctaw 'okla,' meaning people, and 'humma,' red, so 'okla' itself carries the sense of 'people.' Whether families intended the Choctaw word or simply the state connection varies, and we note this honestly.Low

In 30 seconds: Okla is an early-1900s coinage echoing Oklahoma; Choctaw 'okla' means 'people.' Rare, it peaked around 1922 (said OH-kluh).

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Origin LowChoctaw, American

MeaningOkla is an early-1900s American name best explained as a short, place-inspired coinage echoing Oklahoma. The state's name comes from the Choctaw 'okla,' meaning people, and 'humma,' red, so 'okla' itself carries the sense of 'people.' Whether families intended the Choctaw word or simply the state connection varies, and we note this honestly.

U.S. rank (1930)#5074 ↘ Falling

1930 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1922

Total births (all-time)≈ 238

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

Okla appeared in the early twentieth century and is most plausibly a place-inspired coinage tied to Oklahoma, which had just become a state. Oklahoma's name joins the Choctaw 'okla,' people, with 'humma,' red, so the element 'okla' means 'people.' The name likely reflects regional pride, and we present that route honestly rather than claiming a settled personal-name origin.

Okla was never common in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its faint peak around 1922, soon after Oklahoma statehood. A woman named Okla then would be past a hundred now.

Did you know? The 'Okla' in Oklahoma is a Choctaw word meaning 'people,' so this small vintage name quietly carries that sense along with its echo of the young state.

Overall data confidence 30%

References - Okla — Place-inspired; Choctaw 'okla' people, from Oklahoma

Variations

OklahomaOklaOklee

Nicknames

OkieKla

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Okla…

Cheyenne— another regional place-name for people

Tennessee— a similar state-inspired given name

Georgia— a familiar place-name used as a first name

Olla— a similarly popular pick

Twila— the same vintage feel

Explore names like Okla

By themeuncertain rare vintage place-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Okla mean?

It most likely echoes Oklahoma; the Choctaw 'okla' means 'people.' Whether families meant the Choctaw word or the state connection varies, which we note.

How do you pronounce Okla?

It is said OH-kluh /ˈoʊ.klə/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Okla a boy or girl name?

Okla is used here as a girl's name.

How popular is Okla?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the early nineteen-twenties.