NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Kiyla

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "shadow" or "shade".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kiyla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kiyla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 5 births.

This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2009 to 2015. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Kiyla. 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 2016 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kiyla ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 5 girls were registered as Kiyla.
  • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kiyla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5730

2015

Births in 2015

3

Latest year

Peak year

2010

5 births

Estimated living

14

2026

Meaning

What does Kiyla mean?

The name Kiyla is believed to have originated from the Scandinavian regions, particularly in Norway and Sweden. It is derived from the Old Norse word "kilr," which means "spring" or "well." The name was initially used to refer to a natural water source or a person living near a well.

During the Viking Age, which lasted from the late 8th century to the late 11th century, the name Kiyla was relatively common among the Norse people. It was often given to girls born near a spring or a well, as these natural water sources held significant importance in Norse culture and mythology.

Interestingly, the name Kiyla appears in several ancient Norse sagas and legends. In the Icelandic Saga of Erik the Red, written around the 13th century, a character named Kiyla is mentioned as one of the first settlers in Greenland. This historical reference suggests that the name was in use during the Viking era.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kiyla was a Norwegian noblewoman who lived in the 11th century. She was known as Kiyla Arnesdottir and was the daughter of a prominent chieftain in the Trondheim region.

In the 12th century, a Swedish woman named Kiyla Jonsdottir gained recognition for her skills as a healer and herbalist. She was renowned for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies, which she learned from her mother and grandmother.

During the 14th century, a Danish woman named Kiyla Olafsdottir was a respected artist and illuminator of manuscripts. Her intricate illustrations and calligraphic work adorned many religious texts and historical documents of the time.

In the 16th century, a Norwegian woman named Kiyla Thorvaldsdottir was a prominent figure in the Reformation movement. She played a significant role in spreading Lutheran teachings and establishing new churches in her region.

Another notable figure with the name Kiyla was a Swedish painter named Kiyla Eriksdottir, who lived in the 17th century. She was known for her vibrant landscapes and portraits, which captured the beauty of the Scandinavian countryside and its people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kiyla over time

The chart below shows babies named Kiyla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kiyla, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kiyla
01345200920122015

Decades

Kiyla by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kiyla 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 #5144 11 3
2000s #5556 3 1

Related

Names similar to Kiyla

FAQ

Kiyla: questions and answers

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

In 2015, Kiyla was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Kiyla most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 5 babies registered as Kiyla in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kiyla?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "shadow" or "shade".

How many people are called Kiyla in the UK?

A total of 14 babies have been registered as Kiyla across the 4 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.