Ayla Name Meaning: Popularity, History & Middle Names

What Does the Name Ayla Mean?

Ayla is a Turkish girl’s name that is traditionally given to girls. The prefix “Ay” translates to “moon,” while the suffix “la” represents “presence with.”

Those are direct translations, and by combining the two syllables, they can take a few new meanings. One is “halo,” the other is “halo around the moon,” and the third is “with the moon”.

These variations all depend on different contexts in the Turkish language and how they are interpreted. The last meaning the name Ayla can take is “oak tree.”

What Is the Origin of the Name Ayla?

“Ayla” has Hebrew Bible origins. It was popularized in Turkey and is most commonly found there today. Since then, the name has spread all over the world.

It can often be confusing or mistaken for the name “Aliyah.”

How Popular Is the Name Ayla?

Ayla is a very popular name in Turkish communities throughout the world. However, the name Ayla is growing in popularity outside of Turkish culture across the globe. At the turn of the century, it was ranked only in the top 900 names for girls.

Now, the name Ayla is in the top 150 names for girls in the US, just shy of the top 130 in 2020 ⁽¹⁾. In some countries, including Scotland, Ireland, and Australia, Ayla is in the top 100 names.

How Do I Pronounce Ayla?

Ayla is commonly pronounced as “AY-luh.” This enhances the long “A” sound.

There are also versions in which it is said as “AI-luh,” with a strong “I” sound in the beginning.

Is Ayla a Boy or Girl Name?

Ayla is most commonly a name given to girls. There are no popular male versions of it though some theorize that the boy name Elah is closely related.

Variations of Ayla

For being a name with such a long history and cultural roots, there are only a few variations on the name Ayla. Some of them include:

• Aila
• Ajla
• Aylin
• Aylanur
• ​Tülin

Nicknames for Ayla

For how many variations the name Ayla has, there aren’t many known nicknames. Some of those nicknames include:

• Ay
• La
• Lala
• Lonnie

Similar Names to Ayla

There are also a handful of names similar to Ayla. The following are some of those similar names:

• Aliyah
• Aria
• Ava
• Ellie
• Isla
• Kayla
• Leah
• Liz
• Layla
• Maggie
• Mira
• Maya
• Nicky

Middle Names for Ayla

Ayla is a strong name, and the middle name can pair with some great secondary names. Some options include:

• Blair
• Claire
• Cora
• Dawn
• Dior
• Faith
• May
• Pearl
• Quinn
• Ray
• Romina
• Sophia

Sibling Names for Ayla

Many names go great alongside Ayla for a sibling, whether boy or girl. Some of them include:

For a brother:

• Charlie
• Chris
• Danny
• George
• James
• Julian
• Michael
• Nate
• Paul
• Samuel
• Thomas
• Will

For a sister:

• Aubrey
• Autumn
• Callie
• Corinne
• Hannah
• Hazel
• Isobel
• Isobella
• Kate
• Katie
• Lillian
• Lily
• Miley
• Phoebe
• Rebecca
• Aubrey

Famous People Named Ayla

There are also many famous people named Ayla. Some of the most prominent include:

• Ayla: German DJ and producer of radio.
• Ayla Akat Ata: Lawyer and politician.
• Ayla Aksu: Turkish-American tennis star.
• Ayla Algan: Turkish actress and singer.
• Ayla Brown: American artist.
• Ayla Erduran: Turkish violin player.
• Ayla Huser: Swiss professional badminton player.
• Ayla Peksoylu: British-born singer, songwriter, actress, and model.

Ayla in Popular Culture

Many characters in pop culture have taken the name Ayla over the years. From books to movies and video games, here are some of the most notable characters you might recognize:

• Ayla: A character from the book Earth’s Children.
• Ayla: A character from the 1980s movie The Clan of the Cave Bear.
• Ayla Ranzz: A character from the DC Comics universe.
• Ayla: A character from the video game Chrono Trigger.
• Ayla: Character from the Turkish film Ayla.

Ayla FAQs

There might be some other questions on your mind about the name Ayla. Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions and interesting tidbits concerning the name Ayla.