Nejla

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEZH-luh /ˈnɛʒ.lə/Medium

Meaning: The Turkish and Bosnian form of Arabic Najla (Nejla), 'wide-eyed; having large, beautiful eyes' — long a compliment in Arabic poetry. In Turkish the j is said like the s in 'measure'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Nejla is the Turkish and Bosnian form of Arabic Najla — 'wide-eyed', a poet's compliment (said 'NEZH-luh').

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Origin MediumTurkish, Arabic, Bosnian

MeaningThe Turkish and Bosnian form of Arabic Najla (Nejla), 'wide-eyed; having large, beautiful eyes' — long a compliment in Arabic poetry. In Turkish the j is said like the s in 'measure'.

U.S. rank (2024)#14732 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2009

Total births (all-time)≈ 156

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

Nejla is the Turkish and Bosnian spelling of the Arabic name Najla, 'wide-eyed; large of eye' — a compliment with a long life in Arabic poetry, where bright, wide eyes stood for beauty itself. It travelled with Ottoman-era naming into Türkiye and the Balkans, and is well used in both. The Turkish j is soft, like the s in 'measure' (said 'NEZH-luh').

In the U.S. it appears only rarely. Rare here, familiar in Türkiye and Bosnia.

Did you know? In Arabic verse, wide, luminous eyes were the classic sign of beauty — and Najla, the root behind Nejla, carries exactly that praise into a name.

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Nejla — Turkish/Bosnian form of Arabic Najla, 'wide-eyed'

Variations

NajlaNaylaNecla

Nicknames

NejNeji

Famous Bearers

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nejla mean?

Nejla is the Turkish and Bosnian form of Arabic Najla, meaning 'wide-eyed' or 'having large, beautiful eyes.'

How do you pronounce Nejla?

It's said NEZH-luh /ˈnɛʒ.lə/ — two syllables, stress on the first; the Turkish j sounds like the s in 'measure'.

Is Nejla a boy or girl name?

Nejla is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Nejla?

Nejla is rare in the U.S., though familiar in Türkiye and Bosnia.