Okla
Primarily a girl's name of Native American origin with 238 recorded births. Also given to 16 boys.
Meaning & Origin
Alternative form of Okla.: Abbreviation of Oklahoma: a state of the United States.
Okla is a girl's and boy's baby name of Native American origin, a shortened form of Oklahoma — from Choctaw okla (people) and humma (red), meaning 'red people.' The Choctaw words honor the indigenous peoples of the Southern Plains.
As a given name, Okla carries both American geographic identity and indigenous heritage. It's rare and distinctive, a name that connects directly to the land and the people who first called it home.
EtymologyShow more
Okla is built from 4 letters and two syllables — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Native American naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Okla creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Okla has 26+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1895.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 85 | — |
| 1910s | 93 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 50 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 5 | — |
The Story of Okla
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1922, Okla is a name steeped in history. Girls named Okla are most likely born between 1912 and 1930.
How rare is Okla?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Okla is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1895, peaked in the 1910s with 93 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Okla by the numbers
- Would fill 5 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(26 years, 1895–1930)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 5 | #5074 |
| 1928 | 10 | #3104 |
| 1927 | 6 | #4675 |
| 1926 | 9 | #3478 |
| 1925 | 8 | #3939 |
| 1924 | 8 | #3913 |
| 1923 | 6 | #4831 |
| 1922 | 17 | #2258 |
| 1921 | 6 | #4942 |
| 1920 | 15 | #2441 |
| 1919 | 11 | #2955 |
| 1918 | 15 | #2350 |
| 1917 | 11 | #2824 |
| 1916 | 16 | #2102 |
| 1915 | 10 | #2848 |
| 1914 | 10 | #2387 |
| 1912 | 7 | #2566 |
| 1911 | 7 | #2133 |
| 1910 | 6 | #2336 |
| 1909 | 12 | #1266 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Okla as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Okla has also been given to 16 boys in the U.S. since 1915.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Okla a boy's or girl's name?
When was Okla most popular?
How popular is the name Okla?
Can Okla be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1895–1930