Given name
Keila
“a lively and bright-headed woman”
Keila is a variant of Kelly. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Keila is a variant of Kelly. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Keila is a variant of Kelly. Kelly has been associated with Irish Gaelic and Irish naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1956. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Keila through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,424
- 0 boys · 7,424 girls
- Most popular year
- 2006
- 239 babies
- 2025
- 136
- #1,551 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −22%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 136 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,551 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 22.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 239 in 2006. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (24). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,338 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Keila
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Keila, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Keira
“little dark-haired one” · “having dark features; the little dark one”
>99% girls
Kyla
“from the narrow channel”
>99% girls
Kyra
“little dark-haired one” · “a king”
>99% girls
Kira
“little dark-haired one”
>99% girls
Kylee
“from the narrow channel”
1% boys · 99% girls
Estrella
“star of the sea” · “resembling a star”
>99% girls
Laila
“a beauty of the night; born at nightfall”
>99% girls
Cadence
“rhythmic and melodious; a musical woman” · “rhythmic and melodious; a musical man”
16% boys · 84% girls