UK girl's name
Khaila
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "imagination" or "dream".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Khaila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Khaila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2014. 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.
Khaila is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Khaila. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Khaila ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 4 girls were registered as Khaila.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Khaila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4684
2014
Births in 2014
4
Latest year
Peak year
2014
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Khaila mean?
The name Khaila is believed to have originated from the Arabic language. Its roots can be traced back to the word "khayala," which means "imagination" or "fantasy." This name was likely first used in the Middle East, particularly in regions with a strong Arabic cultural influence, such as the Arabian Peninsula and parts of North Africa.
One of the earliest known references to the name Khaila can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature. It was often used as a metaphor or a symbolic representation of creativity, inspiration, and the boundless realms of the human mind. The name's association with imagination and fantasy has given it a romantic and whimsical undertone throughout history.
In the 9th century CE, a notable figure named Khaila ibn al-Ahnaf was a prominent Arab poet and scholar from Basra, in present-day Iraq. His contributions to Arabic literature and poetry further cemented the name's literary and artistic connotations.
During the medieval period, the name Khaila gained popularity among Arab aristocracy and intellectual circles. One notable bearer of this name was Khaila bint al-Walid ibn al-Mughira, a 7th-century Arab woman known for her wisdom, intelligence, and poetic skills.
In the 12th century, a renowned Sufi mystic and philosopher, Khaila al-Dimashqi, hailing from Damascus, Syria, was renowned for his spiritual teachings and writings on the esoteric aspects of Islam.
Another historical figure bearing the name Khaila was Khaila al-Andalusi, a 14th-century Andalusian poet and scholar from the Iberian Peninsula, who made significant contributions to the literary and intellectual traditions of the region during the golden age of Islamic Spain.
While the name Khaila has deep roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has also found its way into other languages and cultures over time, albeit with varying spellings and pronunciations. Its unique and melodic sound, coupled with its rich historical and cultural associations, has made it a captivating and distinctive name choice across different eras and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Khaila over time
The chart below shows babies named Khaila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Khaila, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2014, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Khaila by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Khaila 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4684 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Khaila
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Khaila: questions and answers
How popular is the name Khaila in the UK right now?
In 2014, Khaila was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Khaila most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 4 babies registered as Khaila in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Khaila?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "imagination" or "dream".
How many people are called Khaila in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Khaila across the 2 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.