Maila

Maila is a feminine name with diverse cultural origins. In Finnish, it's a variant of Maija, itself a form of Maria, ultimately meaning 'bitter' or 'beloved' from Hebrew origins. In the Philippines, Maila relates to 'mailap,' suggesting something elusive or hard to catch. The name gained some recognition through Finnish-American actress Maila Nurmi, who created the iconic character Vampira in the 1950s. With its simple two-syllable structure and melodic sound, Maila has an accessible international quality while remaining distinctive. The name has never been extremely common in any culture but maintains steady usage in Finland and parts of Southeast Asia. Its cross-cultural nature makes it appealing to parents seeking a name that works well across language boundaries while remaining relatively uncommon.

Pronounced MY-luh.

As of October 2026, Maila ranked #3624 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #2543 in 2022.