Kala

Q: What is the origin of Kala?

Kala is of Sanskrit origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: Is Kala a girl name?

Kala is traditionally a girl name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

female

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Time; Black"

Attested across traditions, including Sanskrit associations with time or black and Hawaiian usage where the form has local semantic interpretations.

Themes:sanskrithawaiiantimecolor

Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Kala

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#8660Ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

#8660

Kala was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

-2130

lower than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Kala Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Kala.

8 ideas

kala

Nickname

kaly

Nickname

kalay

Nickname

kalao

Nickname

kalaie

Nickname

Similar Names to Kala

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“Grace, Favor”

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“Grace Favor”

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“Grace”

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“Pure”

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“Pledge or Promise”

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“Priceless One”

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“Noble; Bright”

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“From Hadria”

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Alisha

“Noble”

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Aimee

“Beloved”

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Baby Name Lists That Include Kala

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Kala, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

15 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Kala mean?

Kala means "Time; Black". Attested across traditions, including Sanskrit associations with time or black and Hawaiian usage where the form has loc

What is the origin of Kala?

Kala is of Sanskrit origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Kala?

According to the latest SSA data, Kala is currently ranked #8660 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Kala a girl name?

Kala is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Kala?

Popular nicknames for Kala include kala, kaly, ka, ky, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Kala?

There are many names similar to Kala in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginSanskrit, Hawaiian

Syllables2

Length4 letters

US Rank#8660

Trend↓ Falling

Starts withK

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Aditya Amar Ajay Arnav Anish

Sisters

Ayana Asha Amiya Anjali Anisha

Explore More Girl Names Like Kala

Kala has Sanskrit roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Sanskrit baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Kala appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Indian Baby Names and Unique Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean The Sun for Boys and Girls and Names That Mean Miracle And Blessing for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Kala pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Kala beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.