Keila

Meaning of Keila

Keila is a streamlined, lightly distinctive twist on long-fashionable Kayla, yet its roots reach further back to the Hebrew place-name Keilah, meaning “citadel” or “fortress” in the Old Testament. That dual lineage lends the name a blend of contemporary polish and ancient stonework—modern K-initial energy on a foundation of biblical granite. In the United States, Keila has hovered in the mid-hundreds of the SSA rankings for more than half a century, peaking just below the top 700 in the mid-2000s and currently resting in the low 800s, a span that keeps it recognizable without letting it flood kindergarten classrooms. Pronounced KAY-luh, it shares the lilting cadence of Clara and Layla, yet its subtle spelling shift preserves a dash of individuality. Cultural baggage is light—mainly a handful of fictional characters and athletes—so a future Keila is free to author her own narrative without negotiating an overbearing namesake. For parents who value strength, simplicity, and a touch of scarcity, Keila stands as a small but sturdy fort in the modern naming landscape.