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Keala as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Keala

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The baby name Keala is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced keh-AH-lah (IPA: keˈa.la).

Keala is Hawaiian in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: keh-AH-lah (IPA: keˈa.la)

What is the meaning of the name Keala ?

The baby name Keala is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced keh-AH-lah (IPA: keˈa.la).

Keala is Hawaiian in Origin.

Keala is a Hawaiian given name formed from ke “the” and either ala “path, road; to awaken” or ʻala “fragrance, perfume.” Because of this dual root, it’s interpreted as “the path” or “the fragrance,” sometimes extended poetically to “one who shows the way” or “sweet-scented.” The common anglicized spelling is Keala; in Hawaiian orthography it often appears as Keʻala, with the ʻokina marking the glottal stop before ʻala.

As a unisex name, Keala has long been used across the Hawaiian Islands, documented in 19th‑century church and newspaper records, and it remains current today both in Hawaii and among diaspora communities. Orthographic variants distinguish meaning: Keʻala (with ʻokina) favors the “fragrance” sense, while Keala (no ʻokina) typically carries “the path/way” or “awakening.” Related forms include longer compounds such as Kealaula (“dawn light”), though these are separate names. Pronounced keh-AH-lah.

Keala has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Keala

Keala Settle Actor · Born 1975 · United States Keala Settle is an American singer and actress best known for her powerhouse performance of "This Is Me" from The Greatest Showman. She also earned major acclaim on Broadway for originating the role of Norma Valverde in Hands on a Hardbody in 2013, which brought her Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations.

Keala – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
IQ Girls 0 #524 2 11,303
SG Girls 0 #632 1 18,916
HK Girls 0 #649 2 16,104
United States Boys 2008 #884 5 7,541
United States Girls 2024 #899 18 8,487
MY Girls 0 #1,072 1 24,821
DZ 0 #1,233 2 20,130
ZA Girls 0 #1,236 1 25,928

Keala is popular in 8 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
CN
DZ
HK
IQ

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People also ask about Keala

Keala is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Keala is a 3 syllable name, pronounced keh-AH-lah (IPA: keˈa.la).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Keʻala and Ke'ala.
Across languages, Keala has these equivalents: Ala (Hawaiian), Via (Latin, 'way'), Ruta (route).
Somewhat — Keala ranked #884 in United States in 2008, placing it just outside the most common names.
Yes — 1 notable people named Keala are in our database, including Keala Settle (Actor).