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Lylah

♀ Girl

Pronounced LY-lah /ˈlaɪ.lə/High

Meaning: Creative spelling variant of Layla, from Arabic layla meaning 'night,' associated with the Sufi romantic poem Layla and Majnun; also related to Hebrew Lilah from the same Semitic rootHigh

In 30 seconds: Lylah is a modern spelling variant of Layla, the beloved Arabic name meaning 'night.' It keeps all the poetic romance of the original in a fresh orthographic package.
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Origin HighArabic, Hebrew, Persian
MeaningCreative spelling variant of Layla, from Arabic layla meaning 'night,' associated with the Sufi romantic poem Layla and Majnun; also related to Hebrew Lilah from the same Semitic root
U.S. rank (2025)#585 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births503 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 8,540

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419162025

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

History & Origin

Lylah is a creative respelling of Layla, which derives from the Arabic word layla, meaning 'night' or 'dark.' In Arabic poetry and Sufi mysticism, Layla represents the archetypal beloved — most famously in the 7th-century tale of Layla and Majnun, a tragic love story that influenced Persian, Turkish, and Urdu literature for centuries.

Layla and its variants soared in English-speaking countries partly due to Eric Clapton's 1970 rock song 'Layla.' The spelling Lylah emerged in the 21st century as parents sought a more distinctive variant. All spellings including Layla, Leila, and Lylah rank in the U.S. top 100–300 girls' names.

Did you know? The Arabic poem Layla and Majnun — often called the 'Romeo and Juliet of the East' — is over a thousand years old, making Layla/Lylah one of the oldest romantic names in the world still topping modern baby name charts.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Layla — base etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LaylaLeilaLilaLilah

Nicknames

LyLulu

Famous Bearers

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If you like Lylah…

Layla— the standard Arabic spelling of the same night-meaning name
Leila— the Persian/Urdu spelling variant with the same romantic poetic roots
Lilah— Hebrew-rooted spelling variant with the same night meaning
Nyla— similarly structured two-syllable girls' name with an Arabic/Egyptian feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lylah mean?

Lylah is a spelling variant of Layla, from Arabic layla meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty.'

How do you pronounce Lylah?

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

Is Lylah a boy or girl name?

Lylah is used exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Lylah?

Lylah is a less common spelling variant; the name Layla ranks in the U.S. top 30, with Lylah appealing to parents who want a more distinctive spelling.