NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Jayla

A feminine name meaning "calm" or "tranquil", of Spanish origin.

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.

Jayla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Jayla 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 2021, with 36 births.

This profile covers 401 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 2002 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 420 living people in the UK are called Jayla. 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

  • Jayla ranked #1097 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 31 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 36 girls were registered as Jayla.
  • Jayla ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #333 in 2020.
  • About 420 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jayla 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

2021

36 births

Estimated living

420

2026

Meaning

What does Jayla mean?

The name Jayla is a modern derivative of the Arabic name Jalila, which means "beautiful" or "graceful." It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, potentially as early as the 7th century AD.

While the exact origin of the name Jayla is unclear, it is thought to have evolved from the Arabic name Jalila through various spelling variations and adaptations across different cultures and languages. The shift from Jalila to Jayla likely occurred in the 20th century as a more Westernized version of the name.

The earliest recorded use of the name Jayla is difficult to pinpoint, as it is a relatively new name. However, some historical figures with similar names may have influenced its creation or popularity.

One notable figure is Jalila al-Muradiya, a renowned Arab poet and scholar who lived in the 13th century. She was celebrated for her literary works and contributions to Islamic culture.

Another historical figure who may have influenced the name is Jalila Essaiddi, a Moroccan feminist and activist born in 1949. She played a significant role in advocating for women's rights and gender equality in Morocco.

In more recent times, there have been several notable individuals named Jayla. Jayla Siciliano, born in 1998, is an American actress known for her roles in television shows like "Bones" and "American Horror Story."

Jayla Darden, born in 2001, is an American gymnast who competed in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Jayla King, born in 2003, is a Canadian actress and singer who has appeared in various television shows and films, including "The Next Step" and "Descendants 3."

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Jayla or similar variations, highlighting its diverse cultural roots and modern-day popularity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Jayla over time

The chart below shows babies named Jayla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Jayla, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 31 births in 2024, compared with 36 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Jayla
09182736200220132024

Decades

Jayla by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jayla 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 #1189 142 5
2010s #1762 178 10
2000s #2385 81 7

Geography

Where Jayla is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Jayla. 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.

Jayla ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #333 in 2020.

Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Jayla in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#333 in 2020

6 years of NISRA records, 21 total registered

Related

Names similar to Jayla

FAQ

Jayla: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Jayla was ranked #1097 for girls in England and Wales, with 31 births registered.

When was Jayla most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 36 babies registered as Jayla in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Jayla?

A feminine name meaning "calm" or "tranquil", of Spanish origin.

How many people are called Jayla in the UK?

A total of 401 babies have been registered as Jayla across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 21 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Jayla most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Jayla ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #333 in 2020. 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.