Shila

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Shila

Pronounced SHY-luh /ˈʃaɪlə/Medium

Meaning: Shila is most simply a spelling of Shyla or Sheila; the Sheila route leads back to the Irish form of Cecilia, while Shyla is a modern coinage. Separately, Shila appears in Persian usage tied to a sense of light or shining. The routes are uncertain, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: Shila reads as a variant of Shyla or Sheila, and separately as a Persian name of light. It rose late, peaked around 1980, and stayed rare (said SHY-luh).

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Origin LowEnglish, Persian

MeaningShila is most simply a spelling of Shyla or Sheila; the Sheila route leads back to the Irish form of Cecilia, while Shyla is a modern coinage. Separately, Shila appears in Persian usage tied to a sense of light or shining. The routes are uncertain, which we note.

U.S. rank (2023)#17252 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1980

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,080

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

Shila sits between paths: as a clipped Sheila it borrows that name's Irish-via-Cecilia roots, while as a form of Shyla it is a fresh American coinage. A separate Persian name Shila, tied to light, adds a third thread. The routes are uncertain, which we note.

It appeared only faintly, a few dozen girls a year at its high around 1980, with a long thin tail into the 2020s. It keeps company with Shyla, Sheila and Skyla.

Did you know? Depending on the family, Shila can be a trimmed Sheila, a twist on the coined Shyla, or a Persian name — one short spelling carrying several unrelated stories.

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Shila — Shyla/Sheila variant; separate Persian route; uncertain

Variations

ShylaSheilaShilah

Nicknames

ShiLala

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Shila…

Shyla— the coined name Shila most often mirrors

Sheila— the Irish name it can trim from

Skyla— shares the two-beat 'Sh/Sk' shape and era

Kayla— a like modern -la name in sound

Explore names like Shila

By themeuncertain modern variant

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shila mean?

It reads as a variant of Shyla or Sheila (the Irish form of Cecilia), with a separate Persian name of light; the routes are uncertain.

How do you pronounce Shila?

It's said SHY-luh /ˈʃaɪlə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Shila a boy or girl name?

Shila is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Shila?

Shila has always been a rare name in the U.S.