Leila
Leila is a girls' name of Arabic origin meaning “night, dark beauty.” It ranked #259 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Leila?
LAY-lah
where does the name Leila come from?
A feminine name of Arabic origin, also spelled Layla, from the word for night.
From the Persian-Arabic word for night, Leila is the beloved in 'Layla and Majnun,' Nizami's 12th-century Persian romance that became one of the most influential love stories in world literature. The name embodies dark, mysterious beauty and the intoxication of love.
how popular is this name?
Leila has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 144 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 2. It peaked at #163 in 1880, and ranked #259 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #259 |
| 2024 | #267 |
| 2023 | #239 |
| 2022 | #245 |
| 2021 | #214 |
| 2020 | #205 |
| 2019 | #224 |
| 2018 | #239 |
| 2017 | #220 |
| 2016 | #229 |
| 2010 | #205 |
| 2000 | #595 |
| 1990 | #997 |
| 1980 | #845 |
| 1970 | #972 |
| 1960 | #779 |
| 1950 | #657 |
| 1940 | #513 |
| 1930 | #386 |
| 1920 | #323 |
| 1910 | #304 |
| 1900 | #238 |
| 1890 | #190 |
| 1880 | #163 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Leila fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Leila
English speakers took it up through nineteenth-century literature. It is popular across the Middle East, Iran, Turkey, the Nordic countries, India and the English-speaking world, in spellings including Leila, Layla, Laylah, Laila, Leyla and Leylah.
what are the nicknames and variants of Leila?
who are famous people named Leila?
- Leila (heroine of Nizami's Layla and Majnun)
- Leila Hatami (Iranian actress, star of A Separation)
what names are similar to Leila?
what names go well with Leila?
Sibling names that share Leila's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Leila
What does the name Leila mean?
Leila means “night, dark beauty”.
What is the origin of the name Leila?
Leila comes from the Arabic naming tradition. Related forms include Layla, Laylah, Laila and Leyla.
How popular is the name Leila?
Leila ranked #259 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1880, at #163, and it has spent 144 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Leila a boy or girl name?
Leila is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Leila?
Leila is pronounced LAY-lah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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