Leyla

♀ Girl

Pronounced LAY-lah /ˈleɪ.lə/High

Meaning: Turkish and Persian spelling of Layla, from Arabic layla meaning 'night' or 'dark,' associated with the Sufi romantic poem Leyli and Majnun across Turkish and Persian literary traditionsHigh

In 30 seconds: Leyla is the Turkish and Persian spelling of Layla — 'night' in Arabic — carried by the world's most famous unrequited love story. Poetic, cross-cultural, and beautifully simple.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighArabic, Persian, Turkish

MeaningTurkish and Persian spelling of Layla, from Arabic layla meaning 'night' or 'dark,' associated with the Sufi romantic poem Leyli and Majnun across Turkish and Persian literary traditions

U.S. rank (2025)#611 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births478 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 10,555

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Leyla is the Turkish and Persian spelling of the Arabic layla ('night'). The name is central to the medieval Sufi love narrative Leyli and Majnun, a story of passionate, transcendent love between Qays (Majnun) and Leyli that became a central allegory in Persian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani poetry and music.

In Turkey, Leyla has been one of the most beloved girls' names for centuries. In the United States it has grown as part of the broader Layla/Leila/Leyla naming trend, appealing to families with Turkish, Iranian, and Middle Eastern heritage as well as to parents drawn to its elegant, poetic associations. It ranks in the U.S. top 200.

Did you know? The story of Leyli and Majnun inspired works by Nizami Ganjavi (12th century Persia), Fuzuli (16th century Ottoman), and George Gordon Byron — making Leyla/Layla one of the most retold love stories across Islamic, Persian, and European literary traditions.

Overall data confidence 94%

Behind the Name — Layla — Arabic root etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LaylaLeilaLyla

Nicknames

LeyLyla

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Leyla…

Layla— the Arabic spelling variant with the same night meaning

Leila— the Persian/Urdu romanization with the same roots

Lyla— short modern variant with the same night-inspired sound

Nyla— similarly structured two-syllable girls' name with the same cross-cultural appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Leyla mean?

Leyla is the Turkish and Persian spelling of Layla, from Arabic layla meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty.'

How do you pronounce Leyla?

It is said LAY-lah — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Leyla a boy or girl name?

Leyla is exclusively a girls' name.

How popular is Leyla?

Leyla and its variants collectively rank in the U.S. top 200 girls' names. Leyla itself is particularly common in Turkish and Persian heritage communities.