UK girl's name
Tala
A name of Tongan origin meaning "waterfall" or "lullaby".
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.
Tala is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tala popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #751, with 50 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 50 births.
This profile covers 564 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.
Tala is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 580 living people in the UK are called Tala. 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
- • Tala ranked #751 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 50 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 50 girls were registered as Tala.
- • Tala ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #540 in 2023.
- • About 580 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tala as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#751
2024
Births in 2024
50
Latest year
Peak year
2024
50 births
Estimated living
580
2026
Meaning
What does Tala mean?
The name Tala has its origins in various cultures and languages around the world. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "tala'a," which means "to rise" or "to appear." This name is commonly found in Middle Eastern and North African regions.
In Sanskrit, the name Tala is associated with the word "taal," which means "rhythm" or "beat." It is a popular name in Indian cultures, particularly among Hindus and Buddhists. The name is also found in the Malay language, where it means "lake" or "pond."
Historically, Tala has been mentioned in various ancient texts and scriptures. In Hindu mythology, Tala is the name of a legendary demon who was slain by the god Vishnu. The Puranas, which are ancient Hindu texts, contain references to this mythological figure.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tala dates back to the 7th century BCE. Tala was the name of a princess from the ancient kingdom of Kashi, which is now a part of modern-day India. She was renowned for her beauty and wisdom.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Tala. One such figure is Tala al-Halabi (born in 1675), an Arab philosopher and scholar from Aleppo, Syria. She was known for her contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and her writings on women's rights.
Another notable Tala was Tala Raassi (1889-1970), an Iranian poet and writer who played a significant role in the literary renaissance of Iran during the early 20th century. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and social issues.
In the realm of music, Tala is the name of a famous Indian classical singer and composer, Tala Ranga (1927-2009). She was renowned for her expertise in the Carnatic music tradition and was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Padma Bhushan.
Tala Birell (1907-1958) was a Hungarian-American actress who rose to prominence in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. She appeared in numerous films and was known for her versatility as an actress, playing both comedic and dramatic roles.
Lastly, Tala Madani (born in 1981) is a contemporary Iranian-American artist known for her satirical and provocative paintings and animations. Her works often explore themes of power, gender, and social commentary, and she has exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Tala over time
The chart below shows babies named Tala registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Tala, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 50 births in 2024, compared with 50 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tala by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tala 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 | #899 | 203 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1450 | 239 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1857 | 109 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3141 | 13 | 3 |
Geography
Where Tala is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Tala. 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.
Tala ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #540 in 2023.
Across the UK
Tala in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#540 in 2023
5 years of NRS records, 19 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Tala
-
Tala Hadid
film director
American film director
1974-
Related
Names similar to Tala
- Tia 15,569
- Thea 12,888
- Tilly 11,524
- Taylor 7,401
- Tegan 6,583
- Tabitha 6,462
- Talia 5,198
- Tara 5,114
- Tiffany 4,653
- Tallulah 4,442
- Tiana 3,570
- Tamara 3,405
FAQ
Tala: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tala in the UK right now?
In 2024, Tala was ranked #751 for girls in England and Wales, with 50 births registered.
When was Tala most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 50 babies registered as Tala in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tala?
A name of Tongan origin meaning "waterfall" or "lullaby".
How many people are called Tala in the UK?
A total of 564 babies have been registered as Tala across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 19 more in Scotland.
Where is Tala most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Tala ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #540 in 2023. 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.