Shaila is a beautiful and unique name of Arabic origin. It means "asking for rain" or "petitioning for rain". This name is often given to children in areas where rainfall is crucial for agriculture and survival.
The history of Shaila dates back to ancient Arabia, where it was believed that invoking the name would bring about much-needed rainfall during times of drought. Over time, this tradition spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, making Shaila a popular name among various cultures in these regions.
Today, Shaila is still widely used as a given name for girls in many Arabic-speaking countries. However, it has also gained popularity beyond its traditional borders, appearing on baby name lists around the world. Despite its growing international recognition, Shaila remains deeply rooted in its cultural heritage and continues to evoke images of lush landscapes and life-giving rain.
In terms of pronunciation, Shaila is typically pronounced /ʃaɪlə/. The first syllable rhymes with "shy", while the second syllable rhymes with "la". The stress falls on the first syllable, making it sound like SHY-lə.
The name Shaila has seen a fascinating journey in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. In the early 1960s, it was quite rare, with only six babies being named Shaila in 1960. However, by the mid-1970s, its popularity began to rise, with 20 births in 1977 and peaking at 144 births in 2008.
The name reached its zenith in popularity between 2006 and 2013, with a significant increase in the number of newborn girls named Shaila. This period saw the highest number of births for this name, with 133 births in 2006 rising to a peak of 241 births in 2010.
However, since 2013, the popularity of the name Shaila has been on a downward trend. In recent years, there have been fewer than 100 births per year, with only 29 births each in 2022 and 2023. This suggests that while once popular, the name is now less common among newborn girls in the United States.
Despite this recent decline, it's clear that Shaila has had its moments of popularity over the years. With a total of 3212 births since 1960, it's safe to say that the name Shaila has left its mark on American naming trends.