Laila Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LIE-lah /ˈlaɪ.lə/
Origin: Arabic; Hebrew
Meaning: Arabic: night; Hebrew: delicate
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Laila has its roots in Arabic, derived from the word "layl," which means "night." This etymology reflects a poetic and romantic connotation, as night is often associated with beauty and mystery in various cultures. The name has been adapted into several languages and cultures, including Persian and Urdu, where it retains similar meanings and associations.
The transition into English occurred through the influence of Arabic literature and culture, particularly during the medieval period when translations of Arabic texts became more common in Europe. Historically, the name Laila is often linked to the famous Persian tale of "Layla and Majnun," a story of tragic love that dates back to the 7th century.
This narrative has been celebrated in various forms of literature and art across the Middle East and South Asia, contributing to the name's cultural significance. The story has been referenced by notable poets, including the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi, whose work has had a lasting impact on the literary traditions of the region.
Additionally, the name appears in various forms in Islamic texts and folklore, further embedding it in cultural history. Culturally, Laila symbolizes beauty, mystery, and the allure of the night, making it a name that resonates with themes of love and longing.
Its associations with romantic literature and poetry have helped maintain its presence in various cultures over the centuries. In some traditions, the name is also linked to notions of enchantment and the ethereal qualities of night, enhancing its appeal.
The diminutive form "Laili" is sometimes used in Persian and Urdu contexts, reflecting the name's adaptability and enduring legacy across different cultures.
Famous people named Laila
In this section, you will find notable people named Laila. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Laila who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Laila who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Laila Ali is a retired professional boxer and television personality best known for being a two-time world champion and for her role on The Celebrity Apprentice.
Laila Rouass is an actress best known for her roles in Holby City, Spooks, and Footballers' Wives.
Laila Morse is an actress best known for her role as Mo Harris in EastEnders.
Fictional characters named Laila
The following list of fictional characters named Laila is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Laila is a fictional character from the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. She is a central character whose life intertwines with the protagonist's, representing hope and resilience amidst the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Laila, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Laila. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Laila was first seen in the United States in 1884.
Laila has ranked as high as #298 nationally, which occurred in 2008, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Laila has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Laila is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Laila was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Laila (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 93 | |
| CA | 79 | |
| NY | 74 | |
| FL | 61 | |
| NC | 35 | |
| NJ | 35 | |
| GA | 32 | |
| IL | 31 | |
| PA | 28 | |
| OH | 28 | |
| VA | 27 | |
| MD | 22 | |
| AL | 17 | |
| WA | 16 | |
| TN | 15 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Laila.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 839 |
| 2023 | 988 |
| 2022 | 1,031 |
| 2021 | 1,252 |
| 2020 | 1,303 |
| 2019 | 1,460 |
| 2018 | 1,618 |
| 2017 | 1,751 |
| 2016 | 1,951 |
| 2015 | 1,889 |
| 2014 | 2,146 |
| 2013 | 2,143 |
| 2012 | 2,250 |
| 2011 | 2,198 |
| 2010 | 2,248 |
| 2009 | 2,379 |
| 2008 | 2,413 |
| 2007 | 2,365 |
| 2006 | 1,445 |
| 2005 | 1,453 |
| 2004 | 1,282 |
| 2003 | 1,306 |
| 2002 | 801 |
| 2001 | 612 |
| 2000 | 389 |
| 1999 | 167 |
| 1998 | 131 |
| 1997 | 116 |
| 1996 | 111 |
| 1995 | 110 |
| 1994 | 87 |
| 1993 | 95 |
| 1992 | 100 |
| 1991 | 101 |
| 1990 | 78 |
| 1989 | 79 |
| 1988 | 60 |
| 1987 | 59 |
| 1986 | 79 |
| 1985 | 70 |
| 1984 | 79 |
| 1983 | 76 |
| 1982 | 56 |
| 1981 | 73 |
| 1980 | 64 |
| 1979 | 58 |
| 1978 | 63 |
| 1977 | 49 |
| 1976 | 60 |
| 1975 | 62 |
| 1974 | 53 |
| 1973 | 47 |
| 1972 | 34 |
| 1971 | 24 |
| 1970 | 24 |
| 1969 | 22 |
| 1968 | 21 |
| 1967 | 17 |
| 1966 | 29 |
| 1965 | 20 |
| 1964 | 25 |
| 1963 | 25 |
| 1962 | 25 |
| 1961 | 17 |
| 1960 | 18 |
| 1959 | 17 |
| 1958 | 22 |
| 1957 | 17 |
| 1956 | 12 |
| 1955 | 15 |
| 1954 | 11 |
| 1953 | 20 |
| 1952 | 10 |
| 1951 | 11 |
| 1949 | 7 |
| 1948 | 9 |
| 1947 | 9 |
| 1946 | 10 |
| 1945 | 10 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1943 | 15 |
| 1942 | 10 |
| 1941 | 7 |
| 1940 | 6 |
| 1939 | 8 |
| 1938 | 11 |
| 1937 | 11 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1935 | 7 |
| 1934 | 12 |
| 1933 | 14 |
| 1932 | 10 |
| 1931 | 10 |
| 1930 | 13 |
| 1929 | 15 |
| 1928 | 11 |
| 1927 | 17 |
| 1926 | 14 |
| 1925 | 19 |
| 1924 | 8 |
| 1923 | 26 |
| 1922 | 11 |
| 1921 | 31 |
| 1920 | 25 |
| 1919 | 29 |
| 1918 | 17 |
| 1917 | 19 |
| 1916 | 25 |
| 1915 | 23 |
| 1914 | 22 |
| 1913 | 12 |
| 1912 | 12 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1893 | 5 |
| 1884 | 7 |