Ayla

אֵלָה

• Gender: Female
• Origin: Modern Hebrew
• Meaning: terebinth tree

• Ayla comes from the Hebrew word for terebinth tree, a species mentioned multiple times in the Bible and associated with sacred places and divine encounters. The name can also be understood as a variant of Ayala, meaning "doe" or "gazelle," adding a graceful, animal-inspired layer to its nature roots. Either way, it's a name that feels deeply connected to the land of Israel and the resilience of the natural world.

  When actress Isla Fisher converted to Judaism, she chose the Hebrew name Ayala — the same root as Ayla, meaning 'doe' — embracing both the name and the faith she says she loves for its focus on family, food, and laughter. It is climbing the charts for good reason — short, luminous, and lovely in virtually every language, making it a dream for multicultural families. Two syllables that carry both the rootedness of an ancient tree and the wild grace of a gazelle. Hard to ask for more than that.

• Alternate Spellings: Aylah
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Laila
  ,
  Dahlia
  ,
  Amit
  ,
  Tamir
• Theme: nature