Okla is a unique and distinctive given name with roots deeply embedded in American history. It has two main origins - the first being Native American, specifically Choctaw, where Okla means 'people'. The Choctaw people are one of the five civilized tribes that were forced to relocate westwards during the Trail of Tears.
The second origin for the name Okla is in Oklahoma itself, a state whose name translates to 'red people' in Choctaw. This name was chosen by the Choctaw leader Greenwood Leflore when he proposed it as the name for their new territory in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).
Okla has also been used as a given name, particularly among Native American communities and those with Native American heritage. Despite its historical significance, Okla is not widely popular today as a given name, making those who bear it stand out even more.
The name Okla experienced varying popularity throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, with a total of 238 babies being born with this name during this period.
In the year 1895, there were 5 births with the name Okla. This number remained consistent for five years until it increased to 9 births in 1904. The following year saw an increase to 8 births, and then a decrease to 7 births in 1907.
The year 1908 marked a significant jump in popularity, with 9 babies named Okla born that year. This trend continued into the next year with 12 births in 1909. However, there was a noticeable decline in popularity over the next few years, with numbers ranging from 6 to 10 births per year between 1910 and 1915.
The period from 1916 to 1920 saw a steady increase in the number of babies named Okla, reaching a peak of 17 births in 1922. However, this popularity was short-lived, as there were only 6 births in 1923 and 8 births each in 1924 and 1925.
There was another small spike in popularity between 1926 and 1928, with numbers ranging from 9 to 10 births per year. However, the name Okla fell out of favor once again by 1930, with only 5 babies born that year bearing this name.
Overall, while the name Okla experienced periods of popularity throughout these years, it never became exceptionally common. The highest number of births in any given year was 17, which occurred only once, in 1922.