Ajla
A girl's name of Arabic origin with 811 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Parents who choose Ajla tend to be looking for something that feels real but not common — a name with 811 recorded births and a peak of 44 in 2002, enough history to feel legitimate without being ordinary.
The open, warm ending gives Ajla a crisp, modern feel that pairs easily with most surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Ajla ranks #3568 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Ajla is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin via Bosnian, from the Arabic ajlā meaning 'the most beautiful' or 'the most illustrious' — used in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, and among South Slavic Muslim communities as a beloved feminine name.
Ajla is particularly popular in Bosnia and has been a top girl's name there for decades. It carries the warm, two-syllable sound of Balkan feminine names with an Arabic root that celebrates beauty in its most superlative form.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Ajla is a girl's name with a focused stretch of recorded use (1997–2024). 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, Ajla is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #3568), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ajla has 28+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1997.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 157 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 254 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 364 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 36 | — |
The Story of Ajla
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2002, Ajla is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Ajla are most likely born between 1997 and 2012.
How rare is Ajla?
Only about 1 in every 83,721 babies born in 2024 was named Ajla — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1997, peaked in the 2000s with 364 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Ajla by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Ajla per day would take 2.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(28 years, 1997–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 43 | #3568 |
| 2023 | 40 | #3759 |
| 2022 | 36 | #4039 |
| 2021 | 21 | #5751 |
| 2020 | 17 | #6636 |
| 2019 | 28 | #4774 |
| 2018 | 28 | #4770 |
| 2017 | 31 | #4480 |
| 2016 | 19 | #6409 |
| 2015 | 28 | #4855 |
| 2014 | 21 | #5996 |
| 2013 | 21 | #6022 |
| 2012 | 25 | #5402 |
| 2011 | 30 | #4684 |
| 2010 | 23 | #5778 |
| 2009 | 34 | #4370 |
| 2008 | 44 | #3647 |
| 2007 | 34 | #4382 |
| 2006 | 31 | #4577 |
| 2005 | 42 | #3513 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ajla a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ajla most popular?
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Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1997–2024