Jayla is a modern American name of the 1990s, a feminine form of Jay built on the pattern of Kayla; Jay itself is a bird name, the "jay", and was once a nickname for any J-name. It became a favorite in Black American families and reached the top 100 in 2006. Jayla peaked at number 99 that year and has declined since, from number 238 in 2015 to number 530 in 2025.