NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Haila

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "the crescent moon".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Haila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Haila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 4 births.

This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Haila. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Haila ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 4 girls were registered as Haila.
  • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Haila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2017

4 births

Estimated living

10

2026

Meaning

What does Haila mean?

The name Haila is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Arabic word "hilal" meaning "crescent moon" or "new moon." This linguistic root suggests a connection to celestial elements and natural cycles.

One of the earliest mentions of the name Haila can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature from the 7th century AD. During this era, the name was often associated with beauty, grace, and the romantic imagery of the night sky. It was a popular name choice among Arab poets and writers of the time.

In the realm of historical records, Haila appears in various medieval chronicles and accounts from the Middle East. One notable figure bearing this name was Haila bint al-Husayn, a prominent scholar and poet from the 9th century AD who was renowned for her intellectual contributions to the Islamic Golden Age.

Moving forward in time, the name Haila gained prominence in the Ottoman Empire during the 16th and 17th centuries. Records show several influential women with this name, including Haila Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Selim II, who played a significant role in the imperial court of the Ottoman Empire.

Another historically significant figure was Haila al-Salihi, a 13th-century Syrian scholar and writer who made valuable contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence. Her works on Islamic law and theology were widely studied and respected during her time.

In the realm of literature, Haila al-Musilli was a celebrated 10th-century Arab poet from modern-day Iraq. Her poetic works, often exploring themes of love and longing, have been preserved and studied by scholars throughout the centuries.

Other notable individuals with the name Haila include Haila Abdulhadi, a 20th-century Palestinian artist and activist who played a crucial role in promoting Palestinian culture and resistance through her art and advocacy work, and Haila Elhanafy, an Egyptian actress and filmmaker from the 1950s and 1960s who left a lasting impact on the Arab cinema industry.

While the name Haila has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has also been adopted and adapted in various other cultures and regions over time, reflecting the rich tapestry of human diversity and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Haila over time

The chart below shows babies named Haila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Haila, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Haila
01234200320132024

Decades

Haila by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Haila was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5891 3 1
2010s #4763 4 1
2000s #4373 3 1

Related

Names similar to Haila

FAQ

Haila: questions and answers

How popular is the name Haila in the UK right now?

In 2024, Haila was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Haila most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 4 babies registered as Haila in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Haila?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "the crescent moon".

How many people are called Haila in the UK?

A total of 10 babies have been registered as Haila across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.