Laila
Laila is a girls' name of Arabic origin meaning “night, dark beauty, born at night.” It ranked #413 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Laila?
LAY-lah
where does the name Laila come from?
A variant of Leila and Layla, from an Arabic word related to night, used across the Middle East, Iran, Turkey, the Nordic countries, India and the English-speaking world. In Denmark and Finland it is often understood as a Sami name, though it may simply be a form of Leila or of Aila.
Laila (also Layla) is immortalized in the Persian-Arabic epic 'Layla and Majnun,' one of the greatest love stories in world literature. Laila represents the beloved whose beauty is so overwhelming it drives the lover to divine madness. The name captures the mystery and romance of the Arabian night.
how popular is this name?
Laila has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 27 years since 1884, and fell outside it for 115. It peaked at #135 in 2009, and ranked #413 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #413 |
| 2024 | #371 |
| 2023 | #312 |
| 2022 | #309 |
| 2021 | #243 |
| 2020 | #227 |
| 2019 | #210 |
| 2018 | #182 |
| 2017 | #173 |
| 2016 | #164 |
| 2010 | #140 |
| 2009 | #135 |
| 2000 | #643 |
| 1884 | #851 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Laila fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Laila
Laila is recorded in Finland from 1875 and in Denmark from the early twentieth century, and it has been given to Sami heroines in film and literature.
who are famous people named Laila?
- Laila Ali (American boxer, daughter of Muhammad Ali)
- Eric Clapton's 'Layla' (inspired by Layla and Majnun)
what are the nicknames and variants of Laila?
what names are similar to Laila?
what names go well with Laila?
Sibling names that share Laila's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Laila
What does the name Laila mean?
Laila means “night, dark beauty, born at night”.
What is the origin of the name Laila?
Laila comes from the Arabic naming tradition. Related forms include Leila, Layla, Leyla and Leylah.
How popular is the name Laila?
Laila ranked #413 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2009, at #135, and it has spent 27 years in the top 1,000 since 1884.
Is Laila a boy or girl name?
Laila is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Laila?
Laila is pronounced LAY-lah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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