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Home › Baby Names Directory › Layli

Layli

♀ Girl

Pronounced LAY-lee /ˈleɪ.li/Medium

Meaning: The Persian form of Layla, from Arabic layl, 'night'. Layli is the beloved of Majnun in the great Persian retelling of the Layli and Majnun romance, versified by Nizami in the twelfth century — a story that echoes across Persian, Turkish and South Asian literature.Medium

In 30 seconds: Layli is the Persian Layla — 'night' — and the beloved of the Layli and Majnun romance (said 'LAY-lee').
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Origin MediumPersian, Arabic
MeaningThe Persian form of Layla, from Arabic layl, 'night'. Layli is the beloved of Majnun in the great Persian retelling of the Layli and Majnun romance, versified by Nizami in the twelfth century — a story that echoes across Persian, Turkish and South Asian literature.
U.S. rank (2024)#14440 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 91

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200720032024

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

Layli is the Persian form of Layla, from Arabic layl, 'night'. Her story — the doomed love of Layli and Majnun — was given its enduring shape by the poet Nizami and retold for centuries in Persian, Turkish, Urdu and beyond. The name carries that whole literature with it (said 'LAY-lee').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records. Rare here, deeply rooted in Persian tradition.

Did you know? Layli and Majnun is one of the world's great love stories: a poet driven mad with longing, and the woman whose name means 'night'. Nizami's twelfth-century version made it famous (said 'LAY-lee').
Overall data confidence 56%
References — Layli — Persian form of Layla; Arabic layl 'night'; Nizami's Layli and Majnun

Variations

LailiLeiliLayla

Nicknames

LayLili

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Layli…

Layla— the same name in Arabic form
Leila— a like night-name spelling
Roxana— a like Persian classic
Soraya— a like Persian literary pick

Explore names like Layli

By themearabicclassicpersianliterary
By meaningLove

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Layli mean?

Layli is the Persian form of Layla, from Arabic layl, 'night'. She is the beloved of the Layli and Majnun romance.

How do you pronounce Layli?

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

Is Layli a boy or girl name?

Layli is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Layli?

Layli is rare in the U.S., while Layla is far more common.

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