UK girl's name
Kilah
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly meaning "beautiful" or "crown".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kilah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kilah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 4 births.
This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2022 to 2022. 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.
Kilah is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Kilah. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kilah ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 4 girls were registered as Kilah.
- • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kilah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4645
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2022
4 births
Estimated living
4
2026
Meaning
What does Kilah mean?
The name Kilah originates from the Hebrew language and culture, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be a variant spelling or diminutive form of the Hebrew name Keziah, which means "cassia" – a type of aromatic spice plant.
One of the earliest references to the name Keziah can be found in the Biblical book of Job, where it is mentioned as the name of one of Job's daughters. This suggests that the name has been in use for several millennia, possibly since the time of the ancient Israelites.
In terms of historical figures bearing the name Kilah, records are scarce. However, there are a few notable individuals worth mentioning. The first is Kilah van der Merwe, a South African singer and songwriter born in 1988, known for her work in the Afrikaans music industry.
Another prominent figure is Kilah Davenport, an American actress and model born in 1989, who has appeared in several television shows and movies, including the hit series "Shameless" and the film "Monogamy."
Moving back in time, there is a record of a Kilah Middleton, an English woman who lived in the late 17th century and was one of the early settlers in the British colony of Virginia. She arrived in the New World in 1683 and is mentioned in historical documents related to land grants and property records.
In the realm of literature, there is a character named Kilah in the novel "The Bone Doll's Twin" by Lynn Flewelling, published in 2001. Although a fictional character, this provides an example of the name's usage in modern times.
Lastly, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kilah can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, England, where a Kilah Wilkinson was baptized in 1617. This serves as evidence of the name's existence and use in 17th-century England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Kilah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kilah 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 | #4645 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kilah
- 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
Kilah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kilah in the UK right now?
In 2022, Kilah was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kilah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 4 babies registered as Kilah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kilah?
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly meaning "beautiful" or "crown".
How many people are called Kilah in the UK?
A total of 4 babies have been registered as Kilah across the 1 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.