Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Leila
Leila
How to Pronounce Leila
Pronounced LAY-luh /ΛleΙͺ.lΙ/High
Meaning: Night; dark beauty; from Arabic laylah (night)High
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Leila derives from the Arabic ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ (Layla), meaning 'night' β rooted in the word laylah ('night'). The name is iconic in Arabic and Persian literature, most notably as the name of the beloved in Nizami Ganjavi's 12th-century Persian epic poem Layla and Majnun. The Leila spelling is common in English and French-influenced traditions.
Leila has been used across the Arab world and Persian-speaking countries for centuries. In English-speaking countries it gained exposure through Romantic-era poetry and literature. In the United States it has been rising since the 2000s and is now in the top 100 girls' names. The spelling Leila distinguishes it from the more Arabic-forward Layla.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- β
Leila (literary character) (12th century)The beloved in Nizami Ganjavi's Persian epic poem Layla and Majnun, one of world literature's great love stories.
If you like Leilaβ¦
Explore names like Leila
Frequently Asked
What does the name Leila mean?
Leila means 'night' from Arabic laylah. It is the name of the beloved in the Persian epic poem Layla and Majnun.
How do you pronounce Leila?
Leila is pronounced LAY-luh (/ΛleΙͺ.lΙ/) β two syllables with stress on the first.
Is Leila a boy or girl name?
Leila is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.
How popular is Leila?
Leila has been rising steadily in the U.S. and is currently in the top 500 girls' names.