Declining since 2006, #8,362 for girls today.
Popularity of Makaila since 1979
Babies named Makaila per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 37 |
| 1990s | 959 |
| 2000s | 2,631 |
| 2010s | 1,000 |
| 2020s | 113 |
Meaning & origin
Makaila is a modern feminine name that arose in the late 20th century as a creative spelling of Michaela. First recorded in 1979, it reached its peak popularity in 2005, reflecting the broader trend of distinctive 'K' spellings. Since 2006, its usage has been declining, with a 2025 rank of 8,362 and an occurrence rate of about 1 in 133,939 births. The name is most associated with the 2000s decade and is rarely given today. Its construction follows a common pattern of adapting established names into more personalized forms.
Makaila is a recent phonetic respelling of Michaela, itself a feminine form of Michael. Michael originates from the Hebrew question "Mī kāʼēl?" meaning 'Who is like God?'. The spelling Makaila emerged in the late 20th century as part of a trend toward uniquely spelled names, particularly in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kai, Maka, Kay, Kaila
Sibling names for Makaila
Names that share Makaila's style, for a brother or sister.
