Kela as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kela

What is the meaning of the name Kela ?

The baby name Kela is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KEH-lah (/ˈkɛlə/),KAY-lah (/ˈkeɪlə/).

Kela is English, Hawaiian in Origin.

Kela is a modern, multi‑origin given name most often used for girls. Several etymologies converge: as a streamlined spelling of Kayla/Kaila, it can trace to Yiddish/Hebrew Kelila, “crown; laurel,” or to English Kay + -la; as a variant of Keila/Keilah (a biblical place in Judah), it carries the sense “citadel, fortress.” It also appears as a short form of Michaela/Makayla. In Igbo contexts, Kela functions as a clipped nickname from Kele‑ names such as Kelechi/Kelechukwu, yielding the meaning “gratitude” or “thank God.” In Hawaiian naming, it is sometimes seen beside the related Keala (“the path”), though Kela itself is uncommon.

Usage is rare compared with Kayla and its spellings, with modest visibility in English‑speaking countries from the late 20th century onward and in diasporic communities as a nickname. Variants and related forms include Kayla, Kaila, Keyla, Keila, Keilah, Keela, Keala, Michaela, and Makayla.