Cayla

Meaning of Cayla

The name Cayla represents an orthographic variant of Kayla, itself a modern Anglophone formation likely born of the fusion between the diminutive “Kay” (a form of Katherine, from Greek katharos, “pure”) and the feminine suffix “-la.” While its precise etymological lineage remains subject to debate, prevailing scholarship identifies potential influences from the Gaelic caol (“slender”) and the Hebrew root kela or kailah (“crown,” with laurel connotations), yielding a composite that resonates with notions of purity, elegance and distinction. First recorded in United States Social Security data in the early 1970s, Cayla underwent a sustained upward trajectory through the 1980s and 1990s, peaking circa 1998–2001 with annual occurrences surpassing 400 and a highest achieved rank near the 470th position. Thereafter, the name has experienced a gradual decline—most recently registering 38 births and a rank of 912 in 2024—yet it retains a quiet presence within contemporary Anglo-American naming conventions, where its measured simplicity and subtle cross-cultural associations continue to appeal to those seeking a name that is at once familiar and distinct.