Leyla
Leyla is a girls' name of Turkish origin meaning “night, dark-haired beauty, born at night.” It ranked #611 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Leyla?
LAY-lah
where does the name Leyla come from?
One of many spellings of Leila or Layla, a feminine name of Arabic origin, from the word for night.
Leyla is the Turkish form of Layla, immortalized in the Persian-Turkish epic 'Leyla and Mecnun,' one of the greatest love stories in Islamic literature. Leyla represents the unattainable beloved whose beauty drives Mecnun (Majnun) to divine madness, making the name synonymous with transcendent, all-consuming love.
how popular is this name?
Leyla has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 21 years since 2005. It peaked at #586 in 2020, and ranked #611 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #611 |
| 2024 | #599 |
| 2023 | #603 |
| 2022 | #594 |
| 2021 | #671 |
| 2020 | #586 |
| 2019 | #711 |
| 2018 | #646 |
| 2017 | #619 |
| 2016 | #708 |
| 2010 | #750 |
| 2005 | #994 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Leyla fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Leyla
In its various spellings the name is popular across the Middle East, Iran, Turkey, the Nordic countries, India and the English-speaking world.
what are the nicknames and variants of Leyla?
who are famous people named Leyla?
- Leyla Gencer (legendary Turkish opera soprano)
- Leyla Zana (Kurdish-Turkish politician and Sakharov Prize laureate)
what names are similar to Leyla?
what names go well with Leyla?
Sibling names that share Leyla's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Leyla
What does the name Leyla mean?
Leyla means “night, dark-haired beauty, born at night”.
What is the origin of the name Leyla?
Leyla comes from the Turkish naming tradition. Related forms include Leila, Layla, Laylah and Laila.
How popular is the name Leyla?
Leyla ranked #611 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2020, at #586, and it has spent 21 years in the top 1,000 since 2005.
Is Leyla a boy or girl name?
Leyla is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Leyla?
Leyla is pronounced LAY-lah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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