NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Khayla

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "companion".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Khayla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Khayla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 4 births.

This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2004 to 2011. 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 Khayla. 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 2012 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Khayla ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 4 girls were registered as Khayla.
  • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Khayla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5785

2011

Births in 2011

3

Latest year

Peak year

2004

4 births

Estimated living

10

2026

Meaning

What does Khayla mean?

The name Khayla has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating in the Middle East during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "khayyal," which means "imagination" or "fantasy," suggesting a connection to creativity and imagination.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Khayla can be found in the famous Arabic literary work "One Thousand and One Nights," also known as "The Arabian Nights." In this collection of Middle Eastern folk tales, Khayla was the name of a character renowned for her storytelling abilities and vivid imagination.

Throughout history, the name Khayla has been associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest was Khayla bint Jafar al-Khalili, a renowned 9th-century Arab poet and scholar from Baghdad. Her poetic works were widely celebrated and contributed significantly to the literary landscape of the Abbasid era.

Another prominent individual bearing the name Khayla was Khayla bint al-Azhar, a 12th-century Andalusian princess and patron of the arts. She was known for her support of poets, musicians, and artists, and her court in Seville was a hub of cultural and intellectual activity during the Golden Age of Islamic Spain.

In the 14th century, Khayla al-Dimashqiyya was a renowned Syrian calligrapher and illuminator. Her exquisite calligraphic works adorned manuscripts and architectural structures, and she is considered one of the most accomplished calligraphers of the Mamluk period.

Moving forward in time, Khayla al-Kurdi was a 19th-century Kurdish poet and activist from the Ottoman Empire. Her poetry often addressed themes of freedom, justice, and women's rights, making her a pioneering voice in the region's literary and social movements.

Lastly, Khayla Chatti was a 20th-century Tunisian singer and actress renowned for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Tunisian music. Her performances and recordings helped to preserve the rich musical heritage of her country.

These historical figures, spanning centuries and regions, exemplify the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments associated with the name Khayla, reflecting its Arabic origins and the creativity, artistry, and intellectual pursuits it has come to symbolize.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Khayla over time

The chart below shows babies named Khayla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Khayla, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Khayla
01234200420072011

Decades

Khayla by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Khayla 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 #5746 6 2
2000s #3725 4 1

Related

Names similar to Khayla

FAQ

Khayla: questions and answers

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

In 2011, Khayla was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Khayla most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 4 babies registered as Khayla in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Khayla?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "companion".

How many people are called Khayla in the UK?

A total of 10 babies have been registered as Khayla 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.