UK girl's name
Hala
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "halo" or "aura".
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.
Hala is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hala popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1097, with 31 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 31 births.
This profile covers 395 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.
Hala is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 399 living people in the UK are called Hala. 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
- • Hala ranked #1097 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 31 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 31 girls were registered as Hala.
- • Hala ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #760 in 2022.
- • About 399 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hala as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1097
2024
Births in 2024
31
Latest year
Peak year
2024
31 births
Estimated living
399
2026
Meaning
What does Hala mean?
The name Hala is an Arabic name that has its origins in the Middle East. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "halu," which means "sweet" or "pleasant." The name has been in use since ancient times and is found in various historical texts and records from the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hala can be found in the pre-Islamic poetry of the Arabian Peninsula. The name is mentioned in several ancient Arabic poems and verses, suggesting its widespread use among the Arab tribes of that era. It is also referenced in some early Islamic texts and manuscripts, indicating its continued popularity after the advent of Islam in the 7th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hala. One of the most famous was Hala bint Khuwaylid (c. 594 - c. 664), a prominent Arab poet and warrior from the Banu Amir tribe. She was renowned for her bravery and skill in battle, as well as her poetic talent. Her poems and verses have been preserved and are still studied by scholars of Arabic literature today.
Another historical figure with the name Hala was Hala bint al-Mudhaffar (c. 1140 - c. 1220), a renowned scholar and poet from Andalusia (present-day Spain). She was highly educated and well-versed in various fields, including literature, philosophy, and Islamic jurisprudence. Her works were widely acclaimed and influenced the intellectual and literary circles of her time.
In the medieval period, Hala bint al-Qadi (c. 1190 - c. 1260) was a prominent physician and scholar from Damascus. She was widely regarded for her expertise in medicine and her contributions to the field, particularly in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology. Her writings and treatises on medical topics were highly respected and influential.
Another notable figure with the name Hala was Hala bint al-Husayn (c. 1210 - c. 1280), a renowned mystic and Sufi poet from Baghdad. Her poetry and spiritual writings were highly regarded and had a significant impact on the development of Sufism in the region. Her works explored themes of divine love, mysticism, and the spiritual journey.
In more recent history, Hala Mustafa (1923 - 2021) was a prominent Egyptian writer and journalist. She was a pioneering figure in the field of journalism in Egypt and played a significant role in promoting women's rights and empowerment through her writing and activism. Her works addressed various social and political issues and had a lasting impact on Egyptian society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hala over time
The chart below shows babies named Hala registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Hala, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 31 births in 2024, compared with 31 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hala by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hala 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 | #1441 | 110 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1760 | 173 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2247 | 97 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2855 | 15 | 3 |
Geography
Where Hala is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Hala. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Hala ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #760 in 2022.
Across the UK
Hala in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#760 in 2022
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Hala
-
Hala Jaber
journalist
British journalist
2000-
Related
Names similar to Hala
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Hala: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hala in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hala was ranked #1097 for girls in England and Wales, with 31 births registered.
When was Hala most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 31 babies registered as Hala in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hala?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "halo" or "aura".
How many people are called Hala in the UK?
A total of 395 babies have been registered as Hala across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Hala most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Hala ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #760 in 2022. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.