Given name & surname
Hala
“possessing a lunar halo”
Hala is used as a given name and a surname. One Arabic interpretation is “possessing a lunar halo.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Arabic interpretation is “possessing a lunar halo.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Arabic.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1887. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Hala through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,820
- 7 boys · 1,813 girls
- Most popular year
- 2011
- 70 babies
- 2025
- 57
- #2,941 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 57 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,941 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 18.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 70 in 2011. In 2025, Michigan and New York and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,193 as a first name in 2020; 321 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Hala’s family of names
Hala has a related form in Hila. Hala has a related form in Halla. Hala has a related form in Halah.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Hala
- Hala Al TurkBahraini actress and singerborn 2002
- Hala GoraniAmerican journalistborn 1970
- Hélé BéjiTunisian writerborn 1948
- Hala ElkoussyEgyptian artist (born 1974)
- Hala SedkiEgyptian actressborn 1961
- Hala MisratiLibyan television presenterborn 1980
- Hala al-KaribSudanese activist against sexual violence in warborn 1901
- Hala ShukrallahEgyptian politicianborn 1954
- Hala AlyanPalestinian-American writerborn 1986
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Hala, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hadija
Hadija is a feminine given name from Arabic. It is used in French.
>99% girls
Hanna
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Laila
“a beauty of the night; born at nightfall”
>99% girls
Aliyah
Aliyah is used as a given name. One Arabic interpretation is “an ascender; one having the highest social standing.”
>99% girls
Jayla
“one who is charitable”
>99% girls
Lila
“born at night” · “resembling a lily”
>99% girls
Hauwa
Hauwa is a feminine given name from Arabic. It is used in Hausa.
>99% girls
Leila
“night”
>99% girls