Laila Girl

Popularity: #380 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

LaylaLinaLanaLaraLeahLila

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.

MayaNinaZaraAylaSailaKailaTaliaRaina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Laila was first seen in the United States in 1884.

Laila has ranked as high as #309 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 755 0 755
2024 844 0 844
2023 989 0 989
2022 1,031 0 1,031
2021 1,253 0 1,253
2020 1,303 0 1,303
2019 1,461 0 1,461
2018 1,620 0 1,620
2017 1,751 0 1,751
2016 1,951 0 1,951
2015 1,889 0 1,889
2014 2,147 0 2,147
2013 2,148 5 2,143
2012 2,257 7 2,250
2011 2,198 0 2,198
2010 2,249 0 2,249
2009 2,384 5 2,379
2008 2,414 0 2,414
2007 2,365 0 2,365
2006 1,445 0 1,445
2005 1,453 0 1,453
2004 1,288 6 1,282
2003 1,306 0 1,306
2002 801 0 801
2001 612 0 612
2000 389 0 389
1999 168 0 168
1998 131 0 131
1997 116 0 116
1996 111 0 111
1995 110 0 110
1994 87 0 87
1993 96 0 96
1992 100 0 100
1991 101 0 101
1990 78 0 78
1989 79 0 79
1988 60 0 60
1987 59 0 59
1986 79 0 79
1985 70 0 70
1984 79 0 79
1983 76 0 76
1982 56 0 56
1981 72 0 72
1980 64 0 64
1979 58 0 58
1978 63 0 63
1977 49 0 49
1976 60 0 60
1975 62 0 62
1974 53 0 53
1973 47 0 47
1972 34 0 34
1971 24 0 24
1970 24 0 24
1969 23 0 23
1968 21 0 21
1967 17 0 17
1966 29 0 29
1965 20 0 20
1964 25 0 25
1963 25 0 25
1962 25 0 25
1961 17 0 17
1960 18 0 18
1959 17 0 17
1958 23 0 23
1957 17 0 17
1956 12 0 12
1955 15 0 15
1954 11 0 11
1953 20 0 20
1952 10 0 10
1951 11 0 11
1949 7 0 7
1948 9 0 9
1947 9 0 9
1946 10 0 10
1945 10 0 10
1944 6 0 6
1943 15 0 15
1942 10 0 10
1941 7 0 7
1940 6 0 6
1939 8 0 8
1938 11 0 11
1937 11 0 11
1936 11 0 11
1935 7 0 7
1934 12 0 12
1933 14 0 14
1932 10 0 10
1931 10 0 10
1930 13 0 13
1929 15 0 15
1928 11 0 11
1927 17 0 17
1926 14 0 14
1925 19 0 19
1924 8 0 8
1923 26 0 26
1922 11 0 11
1921 31 0 31
1920 25 0 25
1919 29 0 29
1918 17 0 17
1917 19 0 19
1916 25 0 25
1915 23 0 23
1914 22 0 22
1913 12 0 12
1912 12 0 12
1911 9 0 9
1910 7 0 7
1909 5 0 5
1908 6 0 6
1903 6 0 6
1899 5 0 5
1893 5 0 5
1884 7 0 7

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 93
11%
CA 79
10%
NY 74
9%
FL 61
8%
NC 35
4%
NJ 35
4%
GA 32
4%
MI 31
4%
IL 31
4%
OH 28
3%
PA 28
3%
VA 27
3%
MD 22
3%
AL 17
2%
WA 16
2%
MO 15
2%
TN 15
2%
LA 14
2%
MA 13
2%
WI 13
2%
MN 12
1%
SC 12
1%
MS 11
1%
IN 11
1%
CO 10
1%
AR 9
1%
AZ 9
1%
NV 8
1%
DC 8
1%
KS 8
1%
CT 7
1%
OK 7
1%
NM 7
1%
OR 6
1%
IA 5
1%