Makayla

A variation of Michaela, meaning 'who is like God?'.
American origin · Unisex name
0% boys100% girls
#453US 2023
682Births / yr
Falling
104.6kAll-time births
📅 Since 1971🏆 16 years in top 1000.31% of births at peak
How to pronounce Makayla
MAK·EYE·LAH
/ˈmæk.ˈaɪ.ˈlɑ/ · stress on MAK · 3 syllables
A variation of Michaela, meaning 'who is like God?'.
American origin · Unisex name

What does Makayla mean and where does it come from?

Makayla is an American variant of the name Michaela, which originates from Hebrew (מִיכָאֵל). The name gained popularity in the United States during the 1990s and early 2000s, reflecting a broader trend for unconventional spellings of traditional names. It is widely used across various backgrounds a

Cultural significance
Makayla has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in American-speaking communities, where it reflects values of a variation of michaela, meaning 'who is like god?'..
Peak popularity
Reached #37 in 2008 — currently #453 in the US.
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Related Reading
American-origin baby names with timeless appeal
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What middle names flow best with Makayla?

Makayla works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful

Makayla Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Makayla Rose
Floral · soft ending
Makayla Mae
Sweet · timeless
Makayla Claire
French influence · crisp
Makayla Jane
Literary · strong
Makayla Skye
Modern · airy feel
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Middle Names
The best middle names for Makayla
Browse ideas →

How popular is Makayla right now?

Falling — down 61 spots — currently #453 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names

US Trend 19752023#453 · Top 0.33%
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2021
2022
2023
YearUS RankBirthsvs Prior Year
2023#453682▼ down 61 · -14% births
2022#392796▼ down 37 · -9% births
2021#355878▼ down 29 · -7% births
2020#326942▼ down 183 · -58% births
2015#1432,256▼ down 100 · -58% births
2010#435,394▲ up 1 · -6% births
2005#445,724▲ up 23 · +16% births
2000#674,917▲ up 97 · +157% births
1995#1641,911▲ up 637 · +661% births
1990#801251▲ up 1508 · +470% births
1985#230944▲ up 1983 · +144% births
1980#429218▲ up 3474 · +157% births
1975#77667

The story of Makayla

Makayla is a relatively modern name, first appearing in US records in 1971. Its peak popularity was #37 in 2008. More than 104,602 babies have been named Makayla since 1971. The name has grown more popular over time, rising from #7766 in 1975 to #453 in 2023. Makayla is used for both genders: 100% female and 0% male.

Names that peaked alongside Makayla in 2008:

Makayla by decade

Makayla peaked in the 2000s. See all 2000s names →

DecadeBirths
1970s83
1980s593
1990s20,105
2000s55,069
2010s27,810
2020s942

What are good nicknames for Makayla?

CZECH
Míša
ENGLISH
ChelleMicaMichelyneMikkiShell
FRENCH
Micheline
GERMAN
Michi

Gender variants of Makayla

Mikha'il ARABICMikel BASQUEMitxel BASQUEMichael BIBLICAL GREEKMikhael BIBLICAL GREEKMikha'el BIBLICAL HEBREWMichael BIBLICAL LATINMichael BIBLICALMihail BULGARIANMikhail BULGARIANMisho BULGARIANMiquel CATALANMyghal CORNISHMihael CROATIANMiho CROATIANMihovil CROATIANMijo CROATIANMichael CZECHMichal CZECHMichael DANISHMikael DANISHMikkel DANISHMaikel DUTCHMichaël DUTCHMichael DUTCHMichel DUTCHMichiel DUTCHMick DUTCHMichael ENGLISHMicheal ENGLISHMick ENGLISHMickey ENGLISHMicky ENGLISHMike ENGLISHMikey ENGLISHMiĉjo ESPERANTOMiĥaelo ESPERANTOMikelo ESPERANTOMihkel ESTONIANMikkjal FAROESEMika FINNISHMikael FINNISHMikko FINNISHMiska FINNISHMichaël FRENCHMichel FRENCHMickaël FRENCHMikheil GEORGIANMisho GEORGIANMichael GERMANMichel GERMANMichi GERMANMichail GREEKMichalis GREEKMihail GREEKMihalis GREEKMikala HAWAIIANMikha'el HEBREWMihály HUNGARIANMiksa HUNGARIANMisi HUNGARIANMiska HUNGARIANMícheál IRISHMichele ITALIANMihails LATVIANMiķelis LATVIANMykolas LITHUANIANMihail MACEDONIANMikaere MAORIMichel MEDIEVAL FRENCHMichael NORWEGIANMikael NORWEGIANMikkel NORWEGIANMikhailu OLD CHURCH SLAVICMichał POLISHMiguel PORTUGUESEMiguelito PORTUGUESEMihai ROMANIANMihail ROMANIANMihăiță ROMANIANMichail RUSSIANMikhail RUSSIANMisha RUSSIANMihkkal SAMIMìcheal SCOTTISHMicheil SCOTTISHMihailo SERBIANMihajlo SERBIANMijo SERBIANMiša SERBIANMiško SERBIANMichal SLOVAKMiha SLOVENEMihael SLOVENEMiguel SPANISHMiguelito SPANISHMichael SWEDISHMikael SWEDISHMikail TURKISHMikhailo UKRAINIANMykhail UKRAINIANMykhailo UKRAINIANMykhaylo UKRAINIANMeical WELSHMitch ENGLISHMitchell ENGLISHRichelle ENGLISH

Common questions about the name Makayla

What does the name Makayla mean?
Makayla means "A variation of Michaela, meaning 'who is like God?'." — a name rooted in American tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Makayla?
Makayla is currently ranked #453 in the United States as a baby name in the US and is becoming rarer and more distinctive, making it a unique choice that stands out.
What is the cultural origin of Makayla?
Makayla originates from American tradition. American names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Makayla?
Makayla is a three-syllable name pronounced M AE1 K AY1 L AA1. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
What sibling names go well with Makayla?
Makayla pairs beautifully with sibling names that share a similar American heritage or complement its melodic and flowing sound. Names with a similar vibe create a cohesive sibling set without matching too closely.