US Popularity Rank: 2717

Origin: Pacific Islander

Meaning: Story; Bright star; Gold; Wolf; Leaping waters; Day of birth, Christmas Day

Tala is an enigmatic feminine name of primarily Pacific Islander origin, possessing a myriad of meanings across a rich landscape of cultures. In Samoan, Tala means "story," though its tale doesn't end there. Across the water, Tala takes on celestial meaning in Tagalog mythology as the goddess of the morning and evening stars. Known to ferry men to safety with light spheres, Tala means "bright star" in the Tagalog language in honor of her welcome guidance. As Tala traverses the globe, its meaning shifts, encompassing the Persian translation "gold" and the Native American "wolf" and "leaping waters" in a single bound. Tala may also derive from the Latin natalis, meaning "day of birth" or "Christmas Day." Just think of the imaginative stories baby could weave, all with the mention of their name.