Ayla can be derived from several sources. In Turkish, it means "moonlight" or "halo". It can be read as an alternate transcription of the Hebrew name Elah (ֵא ָלה ), meaning "terebinth tree," a species of tree native to the Mediterranean. As an English name, it gained popularity after it was used for the main character in Jean M. Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear novel; in this instance, the name has no specific meaning. Its popularity is on the rise.