Makailah is an attractive, modern-sounding female given name of African American origin. It is composed of two elements: 'Makai', which means "Sea" in Hawaiian, and '-lah', a suffix commonly found in Swahili names. Thus, Makailah translates to "Of the Sea" or "Born by the Sea". This name gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century and has since been used worldwide, particularly among African American families looking for unique and meaningful names for their daughters.
The name Makailah saw a peak in popularity between the years 2005 to 2008 with over 39 births each year. However, its usage has been declining since then, with only 7 births recorded in 2023.