Declining since 2009, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Makaylah since 1992
Babies named Makaylah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 336 |
| 2000s | 1,554 |
| 2010s | 1,136 |
| 2020s | 143 |
Meaning & origin
Makaylah is a modern American respelling of Michaela that first appeared in the early 1990s when creative variations of established names were gaining popularity. The name reached its peak in 2009, ranking among more ornate forms of Michaela that characterized the decade. Though its usage has fallen since 2009, it remains in use, especially in Texas, where it was most popular as of the latest data. The name's syllable count and sound reflect the broader trend of borrowing from Michaela and Kayla, merging a classic religious root with contemporary styling. Parents drawn to Makaylah often appreciate the modern look while retaining a sense of tradition, expressed through a familiar phonetic core.
Makaylah is a modern English spelling variant of Michaela, the feminine form of Michael. Michael comes from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, meaning 'Who is like God?' This rhetorical question appears in the Bible as the name of an archangel. The Makaylah spelling emerged in the United States in the 1990s as part of a trend of creative respellings of popular names like Kayla and Michaela.
Where Makaylah is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mak, Kay, Kayla, Miki
Sibling names for Makaylah
Names that share Makaylah's style, for a brother or sister.
