Layla Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LAY-lah /ˈleɪlə/
Origin: Arabic; Hebrew
Meaning: Arabic: night; Hebrew: dark beauty
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Layla has its roots in Arabic, derived from the word "lail" (ليل), meaning "night." This etymology reflects a poetic and romantic quality, as the night is often associated with beauty and mystery in various cultures. The name entered the English language through the transliteration of Arabic during the 19th century, when interest in Arabic literature and culture grew in the West, particularly through translations of classic texts and poetry.
Historically, Layla is most famously associated with the Arabic literary tale of "Layla and Majnun," which dates back to the 7th century. This story, attributed to the poet Qays ibn al-Mulawwah, tells of a tragic love between Layla and Qays, who becomes known as Majnun, meaning "madman" in Arabic.
The narrative has been retold in various forms across cultures, influencing Persian literature and later adaptations in other languages, including English. The tale's enduring themes of love and longing have made Layla a symbol of unattainable beauty in literary traditions.
In addition to its literary significance, the name Layla has been embraced in various cultures, often associated with the night and its connotations of beauty and romance. The name has also been linked to several historical figures, including Layla bint al-Munzir, a notable figure in early Islamic history.
The name's resonance is further enhanced by its appearances in poetry and music throughout the centuries, reinforcing its cultural importance. Variants of the name, such as Leila and Laila, have also emerged, reflecting the name's adaptability across different linguistic and cultural contexts.
Famous people named Layla
In this section, you will find notable people named Layla. 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 Layla who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Layla 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.
Layla Ali is a retired professional boxer and television personality best known for being a two-time world champion and for her appearances on The Celebrity Apprentice.
Layla Kayleigh is a television presenter and actress best known for her work on G4's Attack of the Show! and for hosting various events and shows.
Layla El is a retired professional wrestler and dancer best known for her time in WWE and for winning the WWE Diva Search.
Layla McCay is a public health expert best known for her work in health policy and advocacy.
Fictional characters named Layla
The following list of fictional characters named Layla 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.
Layla is a fictional character from the video game series Final Fantasy. She is a prominent character in Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, where she plays a key role in the story's events.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Layla, 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 Layla. 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 Layla was first seen in the United States in 1950.
Layla has ranked as high as #72 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Layla has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Layla 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 Layla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Layla (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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 609 | |
| TX | 505 | |
| NY | 326 | |
| FL | 324 | |
| IL | 203 | |
| OH | 190 | |
| PA | 176 | |
| NC | 176 | |
| NJ | 155 | |
| GA | 155 | |
| TN | 144 | |
| AZ | 142 | |
| VA | 140 | |
| IN | 109 | |
| MO | 108 |
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 Layla.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,305 |
| 2023 | 5,698 |
| 2022 | 6,091 |
| 2021 | 6,347 |
| 2020 | 6,221 |
| 2019 | 6,518 |
| 2018 | 6,509 |
| 2017 | 6,333 |
| 2016 | 6,298 |
| 2015 | 6,346 |
| 2014 | 6,464 |
| 2013 | 6,489 |
| 2012 | 6,278 |
| 2011 | 6,087 |
| 2010 | 5,899 |
| 2009 | 5,212 |
| 2008 | 4,931 |
| 2007 | 3,902 |
| 2006 | 3,362 |
| 2005 | 2,384 |
| 2004 | 2,012 |
| 2003 | 1,687 |
| 2002 | 1,073 |
| 2001 | 947 |
| 2000 | 698 |
| 1999 | 351 |
| 1998 | 247 |
| 1997 | 189 |
| 1996 | 215 |
| 1995 | 235 |
| 1994 | 224 |
| 1993 | 320 |
| 1992 | 166 |
| 1991 | 109 |
| 1990 | 132 |
| 1989 | 95 |
| 1988 | 109 |
| 1987 | 90 |
| 1986 | 127 |
| 1985 | 81 |
| 1984 | 111 |
| 1983 | 87 |
| 1982 | 116 |
| 1981 | 106 |
| 1980 | 130 |
| 1979 | 130 |
| 1978 | 142 |
| 1977 | 206 |
| 1976 | 174 |
| 1975 | 194 |
| 1974 | 185 |
| 1973 | 151 |
| 1972 | 124 |
| 1971 | 42 |
| 1970 | 7 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1967 | 10 |
| 1964 | 7 |
| 1957 | 5 |
| 1955 | 7 |
| 1950 | 7 |