Given name
Keilah
“a lively and bright-headed woman”
Keilah is a variant of Kelly. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Keilah is a variant of Kelly. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Keilah 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 1976. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Keilah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,602
- 0 boys · 1,602 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 66 babies
- 2025
- 31
- #4,497 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 31 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,497 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was virtually unchanged in 2021–2025 compared with 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 66 in 2005. In 2025, California and Florida and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,297 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 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Keilah, 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
Keili
>99% girls
Kaelah
>99% girls
Kyia
>99% girls
Canela
Canela is a feminine given name. It is used in Spanish.
>99% girls
Kenah
>99% girls
Keyla
“a wise daughter”
>99% girls
Khyra
>99% girls