NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Teyla

A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially meaning "watered".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Teyla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Teyla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 17 births.

This profile covers 60 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2005 to 2016. 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 18% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 60 living people in the UK are called Teyla. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Teyla ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 17 girls were registered as Teyla.
  • About 60 living people in the UK are estimated to have Teyla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5785

2016

Births in 2016

3

Latest year

Peak year

2009

17 births

Estimated living

60

2026

Meaning

What does Teyla mean?

The name Teyla is believed to have its origins in the ancient Sumerian language, one of the earliest known written languages, which was spoken in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 3500 BCE. The name is thought to be derived from the Sumerian word "tela," meaning "life" or "to live."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Teyla can be found in cuneiform inscriptions from the city of Ur, dating back to around 2500 BCE. These inscriptions mention a woman named Teyla who was a priestess in the temple of the moon god Nanna. This suggests that the name may have held religious or spiritual significance in ancient Sumerian culture.

The name Teyla also appears in several ancient Babylonian texts from around 1800 BCE, where it is mentioned as the name of a woman who was a skilled weaver and textile worker. This connection to the arts and crafts of weaving may have been another aspect of the name's meaning or symbolism in ancient Mesopotamian societies.

Throughout the centuries, the name Teyla has been associated with various historical figures, including Teyla of Cappadocia (born circa 230 CE), who was a Christian martyr and saint revered in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Another notable figure was Teyla al-Khwarizmi (850 - 925 CE), a Persian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of algebra.

In the medieval period, Teyla was the name of a 12th-century Andalusian poet and scholar from Seville, Spain. Her poetry and works on philosophy and literature were highly regarded during her lifetime and in the centuries that followed.

Moving forward in history, Teyla was also the name of a 16th-century Ottoman Turkish noblewoman and philanthropist who established several schools and hospitals in Istanbul and other parts of the Ottoman Empire. She was known for her charitable works and dedication to education and healthcare.

Another notable figure named Teyla was a 19th-century Ethiopian empress and wife of Emperor Tewodros II. She played a significant role in the political and military affairs of the Ethiopian Empire during her husband's reign and was known for her intelligence and leadership skills.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Teyla, highlighting its rich cultural and historical significance across various regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Teyla over time

The chart below shows babies named Teyla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Teyla, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 17 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Teyla
0491317200520102016

Decades

Teyla by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Teyla 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 #4704 24 5
2000s #3197 36 4

Related

Names similar to Teyla

FAQ

Teyla: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Teyla was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Teyla most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 17 babies registered as Teyla in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Teyla?

A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially meaning "watered".

How many people are called Teyla in the UK?

A total of 60 babies have been registered as Teyla across the 9 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.