Feminine form of Neil, from Gaelic Niall meaning 'champion' or 'cloud.'
Neila is a name that arrives at the same destination by two entirely different roads. In its most common derivation it is the feminine form of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Niall — itself of disputed but likely meaning: "champion," "cloud," or perhaps simply "passionate" — filtered through centuries of Anglicization into Neil and then gently feminized. This lineage gives Neila deep Celtic resonance, connecting its bearer to the legendary High King Niall of the Nine Hostages, whose descendants supposedly gave rise to the Uí Néill dynasty and whose genes, according to some population studies, spread remarkably widely across the Irish diaspora.
A second, independent path leads through Hebrew, where Neila (also spelled Ne'ila) is the name of the concluding prayer service of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The word means "closing" or "locking," referring to the closing of the heavenly gates at the end of the fast — a moment of profound spiritual intensity and hope. A child named Neila from this tradition carries a name that resonates with transformation and renewal.
As a given name in the English-speaking world, Neila occupies a charming niche: familiar enough to be readable at a glance, rare enough to feel distinctive. It avoids the overcrowding that has burdened its cousin Neala or Nyla, and its soft two-syllable rhythm suits it to virtually any surname. The name has seen quiet but steady appreciation among parents who want a Celtic- or Hebrew-rooted name that hasn't yet been flattened by overuse.