Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Eila
GirlFinnish· “meaning uncertain; Finnish name”
- Meaning
- meaning uncertain; Finnish name (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Finnish
- Pronunciation
- AY-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,783
- US babies 2025
- 113
- Best rank
- #1,400 (2020)
- Peak year
- 2020
Meaning and origin of Eila
Eila is often said to mean “meaning uncertain; Finnish name”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Finnish roots.
Eila is a Finnish name whose origin is not settled. It is often explained as a Finnish form of Helena, through a chain of short forms, or linked to Aili, another Finnish form of Helga or Adelaide. Neither link is certain, so the meaning is best treated as unknown. In Finnish it is said AY-lah, and English speakers usually say AY-luh. Outside Finland the spelling also appears as a variant of Ayla or Isla. Short and airy, it has a clean Nordic look.
Popularity over time
Eila first appears in US Social Security records in 1912. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,400 in 2020, the same year it reached its highest count of 156 babies. In 2025, 113 babies were named Eila, and it ranked #1,783 nationally. That is 33% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,627 in 1920, #12,168 in 2000, #3,532 in 2010, and #1,783 in 2025. Of the 1,906 US girls named Eila since records began, 41% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 751 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Empress, Legaci, Kenzley, Yalitza, and Arizona.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Eila ranked highest in Kentucky, Kansas, and Pennsylvania.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | #588 | 7 |
| Kansas | #604 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | #947 | 9 |
| Tennessee | #1020 | 6 |
| Virginia | #1079 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Eila is usually pronounced AY-luh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with E and ends in “-la”.
Middle names for Eila
A few middle names that flow with Eila: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Eila
Similar names
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Lists that include Eila
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Eila mean?
Eila is often said to mean “meaning uncertain; Finnish name”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Finnish roots.
What is the origin of the name Eila?
Eila has Finnish roots. Eila is a Finnish name whose origin is not settled.
Is Eila a popular name?
Not especially. Eila ranked #1,783 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Eila a boy or girl name?
Eila is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Eila?
Eila is usually pronounced AY-luh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings