Skylar

Usually interpreted as “scholar” or “student” through the surname Schuyler.

Skylar is an English name for girls and boys, with an older surname behind its modern appearance. It is a variant of Skyler, a respelling of Schuyler. Through that Dutch surname, it is usually interpreted as “scholar” or “student”. The familiar gloss belongs to its surname background; Skylar itself is a later English spelling. In English, the name has two syllables: SKY-ler. The first carries the emphasis, opening with a crisp sk sound before the vowel glides; the lighter ending lets the name settle gently. Skylar and Skyler share this pronunciation, so the choice between them is mainly visible on the page. The opening can also bring the English word sky to mind. That is an evocative association rather than the name’s historical meaning, and it can give Skylar an airy, bright feel. Its appeal may lie in that combination of a broad, open first syllable and a compact finish: contemporary in style, with a little room for daydreaming.

Etymology: A variant of Skyler, an English respelling of Schuyler, which comes from a Dutch surname. The familiar “scholar” gloss belongs to that surname history.