Aayla
A girl's name of Arabic origin with 817 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Parents who choose Aayla tend to be looking for something that feels real but not common — a name with 817 recorded births and a peak of 75 in 2022, enough history to feel legitimate without being ordinary.
The open, warm ending gives Aayla a crisp, modern feel that pairs easily with most surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Aayla ranks #2877 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Aayla is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin meaning 'moonlight' or 'halo of light around the moon.' It gained pop culture visibility through Aayla Secura, the blue-skinned Twi'lek Jedi in Star Wars, giving it both mystical and sci-fi appeal.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Aayla is a girl's name with a focused stretch of recorded use (2005–2024). Its Arabic roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Aayla is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #2877), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Aayla has 20+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2005.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 335 | #2608 | — |
| 2010s | 367 | #4093 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 115 | #6310 | — |
The Story of Aayla
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2022, Aayla is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Aayla are most likely born between 2012 and 2024.
How rare is Aayla?
Only about 1 in every 63,158 babies born in 2024 was named Aayla — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2005, peaked in the 2010s with 367 births that decade, and continues to thrive.
Aayla by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Aayla per day would take 2.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(20 years, 2005–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 57 | #2877 |
| 2023 | 73 | #2438 |
| 2022 | 75 | #2424 |
| 2021 | 74 | #2415 |
| 2020 | 56 | #2887 |
| 2019 | 33 | #4260 |
| 2018 | 43 | #3560 |
| 2017 | 37 | #3997 |
| 2016 | 36 | #4080 |
| 2015 | 27 | #4982 |
| 2014 | 41 | #3716 |
| 2013 | 42 | #3645 |
| 2012 | 45 | #3523 |
| 2011 | 27 | #5063 |
| 2010 | 36 | #4107 |
| 2009 | 22 | #6091 |
| 2008 | 28 | #5142 |
| 2007 | 26 | #5377 |
| 2006 | 29 | #4809 |
| 2005 | 10 | #10132 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aayla a boy's or girl's name?
When was Aayla most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2005–2024