Kaila, most commonly rendered phonetically as KAY-luh (ˈkeɪlə), is a modern English feminine given name whose etymology intersects several linguistic streams: it is widely regarded as a streamlined spelling of Kayla—a late-twentieth-century coinage that blends the Irish surname Cadhla, signifying “slender and fair,” with the Hebrew Kelila, denoting a “crown” or “laurel.” Owing to this dual heritage, Kaila simultaneously evokes the Celtic ideal of delicate beauty and the Semitic motif of honor and distinction. In the United States the name emerged quietly in the late 1960s, accelerated through the 1980s, and attained its highest relative frequency in 1991; since then it has receded to a position just within the top thousand, indicating sustained but niche appeal. Parents who favor Kaila often cite its concise visual form, its clear two-syllable rhythm, and its capacity to feel both familiar and subtly distinctive in Anglophone settings.
| Kaila Estrada is a Filipino actress who rose to fame in 2023 with her roles in Linlang and Can't Buy Me Love. |
| Kaila Charles is an American basketball player who starred at Maryland and now plays for the WNBA's Golden State Valkyries. |
| Kaila Mullady is an American beatboxer and actress who won the female solo title at the Beatbox Battle World Championship in 2015 and 2018 and performs as Kaizer Roze with the improv rap group Freestyle Love Supreme. |
| Kaila Methven is an American designer known for her work in fashion and lingerie. |