Leila

Leila - A very unique female name

Leila appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #324. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Leila and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Leila? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Leila. The baby girl name Leila was given to 1,159 baby girls in 2025, ranking #266 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,125 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Leila peaked in popularity 16 years ago in 2010 on position 204.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Leila, 1-5?

Leila is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Leila is currently topping the baby name charts in Hawaii at position #34 - and is the least popular in Louisiana at position #856.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Leila is where you live.

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Leila origin and meaning

Arabic and Persian

'Night' — from Arabic Layla, the ordinary word for night

Leila is a form of Layla, the beloved in the classic Arabic and Persian love story of Layla and Majnun, later carried into English poetry by Byron and into opera and song. It has been used in the US since 1910, peaked in 2010, and now sits at #266, behind its own cousin Layla in current popularity.

Attested etymology

Leila is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Leila, pop culture references for the name Leila and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Leila

We've found the following names that sound similar to Leila, sorted by popularity.

Leah / Lily / Layla / Lillie / Lola / Lila / Lilly / Lee / Lula / Lyla /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Leila

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Leila a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Leila?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

LAY-luh · /ˈleɪlə/
Families split between LAY-luh and LEE-luh (as in Sheila); both are long-established for this spelling.

Around the world

• Layla (Arabic) — The transliterated Arabic form, now the most popular spelling in the US
• Leïla (French) — French spelling
• Leyla (Turkish) — Turkish form

Spellings and nicknames

• Layla — Now the dominant spelling of the name
• Laila — Scandinavian and Arabic-influenced spelling
• Leyla — Turkish spelling used in the US

Nicknames: Lei

Famous bearers

• Leila Hatami — Iranian actress known for A Separation (b. 1972) Contemporary
• Leila Lopes — Angolan model crowned Miss Universe 2011 (b. 1986) Contemporary

Style

InternationalLiteraryClassic

Why parents choose it

Leila is the literary, slightly more formal member of the Layla family, with centuries of poetry behind it.

Worth knowing

• Pronunciation genuinely splits — LAY-luh vs LEE-luh — and Layla will be the assumed spelling.