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.
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
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
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.
