Layla

♂ Boy

Pronounced LAY-lah /ˈleɪ.lɑ/Medium

Meaning: From the Arabic Layla, 'night; dark beauty' (the beloved of the classic Layla and Majnun tale); an overwhelmingly female name; here listed as a boy's; we note the leanLow

In 30 seconds: Night; dark beauty: Layla is an Arabic name (overwhelmingly a girl's). Warm and lyrical (said 'LAY-lah'). We note the lean.

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Origin LowArabic

MeaningFrom the Arabic Layla, 'night; dark beauty' (the beloved of the classic Layla and Majnun tale); an overwhelmingly female name; here listed as a boy's; we note the lean

U.S. rank (2024)#10455 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2011

Total births (all-time)≈ 109

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Layla comes from the Arabic Layla, 'night; dark beauty' (the beloved of the classic Layla and Majnun tale); it is an overwhelmingly female name (here listed as a boy's; we note the lean). A lyrical name (said 'LAY-lah').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a boy's name; it is overwhelmingly a girl's name. Rare here, night at the root, and lyrical.

Did you know? Layla is 'night; dark beauty' in Arabic — the beloved of the classic Layla and Majnun tale — an overwhelmingly female name — here listed as a boy's (we note the lean; said 'LAY-lah').

Overall data confidence 42%

References — Layla — Arabic; overwhelmingly female; here M

Variations

LeilaLaila

Nicknames

Lay

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Layla…

Leila— a fellow spelling (female)

Laila— a fellow spelling (female)

Layth— an Arabic boys' name ('lion')

Lael— a sound-adjacent boys' name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Layla mean?

Layla is Arabic for 'night; dark beauty'; an overwhelmingly female name.

How do you pronounce Layla?

It's said LAY-lah /ˈleɪ.lɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Layla a boy or girl name?

Layla is listed here as a boy's name, though it is overwhelmingly a girl's name.

How popular is Layla?

Layla is very rare as a boy's name in the U.S.