Zayla

♀ Girl

Pronounced ZAY-luh /ˈzeɪ.lə/High

Meaning: Possibly from Arabic Zayla or Zaylah meaning 'from the port of Zeila' (Somalia); or a variant of Zaila/Zala meaning strength or beauty — etymology uncertainMedium

In 30 seconds: A modern name whose origin is uncertain — possibly Arabic, possibly a creative variant of Kayla or Layla. Its soft Z-opening and two-syllable vowel-forward sound place it firmly in the contemporary naming aesthetic.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumArabic, Hebrew

MeaningPossibly from Arabic Zayla or Zaylah meaning 'from the port of Zeila' (Somalia); or a variant of Zaila/Zala meaning strength or beauty — etymology uncertain

U.S. rank (2025)#1012 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births248 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,942

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

Zayla may be a variant of Kayla, Layla, or Zara, or it may derive from the Somali/Arabic port city of Zeila. There is no single documented historical etymology. As a given name it is a product of the creative spelling and sound-based naming popular in the 21st century.

Zayla appeared in U.S. birth records from the 2010s and ranked #993 for girls in 2024. Its Z-opening connects it to the broader trend for Z-initial names (Zoe, Zoey, Zara, Zayla, Zaynab).

Did you know? Zeila (or Zayla) is a historic port city in Somaliland, one of the oldest cities in the Horn of Africa — so the name may carry ancient trade-route connotations if the geographical root is correct.

Overall data confidence 62%

U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ZailaZaylaZaylah

Nicknames

ZayZai

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Zayla…

Layla— two-syllable -ayla name sharing almost the same sound

Kayla— two-syllable -ayla name from the same sound family

Zara— short Z-opening name with a similar crisp elegance

Maya— two-syllable vowel-open name in the same aesthetic

Zaira— Z-opening two-syllable name with Arabic roots

Explore names like Zayla

By thememodern arabic two-syllable creative z-opening

By meaningStrength Beauty

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zayla mean?

Zayla's origin is uncertain — it may relate to the Arabic/Somali port city of Zeila, or function as a creative variant of Layla or Kayla. No single documented meaning exists.

How do you pronounce Zayla?

It's said ZAY-luh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Zayla a boy or girl name?

Zayla is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Zayla?

Zayla ranked #993 for U.S. girls in 2024.