Layla

♀ Girl

Pronounced LAY-luh /ˈleɪ.lə/High

Meaning: Night; dark beauty; born at nightHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Arabic for 'night,' Layla is the legendary dark beauty of classical Arabic poetry and the subject of one of rock music's greatest love songs. It has climbed into the U.S. top 30.

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Origin HighArabic, Hebrew

MeaningNight; dark beauty; born at night

Peak year2013

Total births (all-time)≈ 80,841

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Layla (also Leila, Leyla) comes from the Arabic layla (لَيْلَى), meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty.' It also has a Hebrew parallel in laylah (לַיְלָה), night. In Arabic poetry and tradition, Layla represents the ideal of feminine beauty, celebrated in the medieval epic of Layla and Majnun.

Known primarily in Arabic and Persian cultures for centuries, Layla gained Western recognition through Eric Clapton's rock anthem 'Layla' (1970) by Derek and the Dominos. The name entered the U.S. top 100 around 2003 and has climbed to the top 30, appreciated for its romantic, cross-cultural appeal.

Did you know? The Persian-Arabic tale of Layla and Majnun (c. 7th century AD) is often called the 'Romeo and Juliet of the East' — a tragic love story of a man so consumed by love for Layla that he goes mad (majnun = mad). The tale inspired poets from Rumi to Shakespeare.

Variations

LeilaLeylaLailaLaylah

Nicknames

LayLala

Famous Bearers

★Layla (legendary figure) (c. 7th century AD)
Subject of the classical Arabic-Persian epic poem Layla and Majnun, a timeless archetype of beauty.

If you like Layla…

Isla— shares the soft, romantic two-syllable ease

Luna— equally evocative of night/celestial themes

Aria— fellow lyrical, international girls' name

Nora— shares the warm, short classic feel

Maya— another name with rich cross-cultural roots and modern appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Layla mean?

Layla comes from the Arabic layla, meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty,' celebrated in the classical Arabic-Persian romantic epic Layla and Majnun.

How do you pronounce Layla?

Layla is said LAY-luh /ˈleɪ.lə/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Layla a boy or girl name?

Layla is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Layla?

Layla entered the U.S. top 30 girls' names by the mid-2010s and has remained there, valued for its romantic cross-cultural appeal.