Ayla, which translates to "moonlight" or "halo" in Turkish, was primarily popularized in the United States by a character in Jean M. Auel's 1980 novel "Clan of the Cave Bear." The book was later adapted into a 1986 film of the same name, which corresponds with Ayla's 1987 debut in the Social Security Administration's top 1,000 baby girl names. It has grown in popularity in recent years and cracked the top 100 for the first time in 2022. The name can also be a shortened form or nickname for names like Kayla, Makayla, Shayla or McKayla.
