Leela Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LEE-lah /ˈliːlə/
Origin: Sanskrit; Arabic
Meaning: Sanskrit: 'play'; Arabic: 'night'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Leela has its roots in the Sanskrit word "līlā," which translates to "play" or "divine play." This term is often associated with the concept of the divine playfulness of gods, particularly in Hindu philosophy, where it signifies the creative and playful aspects of the divine. The name has been adopted into various languages and cultures, often retaining its original meaning or connotation of playfulness and creativity.
Historically, the name Leela has been linked to various figures in Hindu mythology and literature. In the context of Hindu texts, the concept of līlā is frequently associated with the exploits of deities such as Krishna, who is known for his playful and mischievous nature.
The use of the name can be traced back to ancient Indian texts, where it embodies the idea of life as a playful and joyous experience. Over the centuries, the name has appeared in various forms of literature and art, reflecting its deep cultural significance.
In addition to its mythological roots, the name Leela has been embraced in various cultural contexts, often symbolizing joy, creativity, and the celebration of life. Its association with divine play has made it a favored choice among those who appreciate its spiritual and artistic connotations.
The name has also been used in various adaptations and translations of stories and folklore, further embedding it into the cultural fabric of societies influenced by Hinduism. The diminutive form "Leela" is often used affectionately, highlighting its endearing qualities.
Famous people named Leela
In this section, you will find notable people named Leela. 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 Leela who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Leela 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.
Leela James is a singer best known for A Change Is Gonna Come, My Soul, and Did It For Love.
Leela Chandragiri is a dancer and choreographer best known for her work in Indian classical dance and performances worldwide.
Fictional characters named Leela
The following list of fictional characters named Leela 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.
Leela is a fictional character from the animated television series Futurama. She is the one-eyed captain of the Planet Express ship and a skilled delivery pilot.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Leela, 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 Leela. 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 Leela was first seen in the United States in 1898.
Leela has ranked as high as #1191 nationally, which occurred in 2016, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Leela has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Leela 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 Leela was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Leela (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 | 27 | |
| NY | 14 | |
| IL | 14 | |
| TX | 11 | |
| PA | 10 | |
| MD | 8 | |
| OH | 8 | |
| TN | 8 | |
| MA | 7 | |
| NJ | 7 | |
| GA | 7 | |
| WA | 6 | |
| MN | 5 |
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 Leela.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 185 |
| 2023 | 179 |
| 2022 | 179 |
| 2021 | 179 |
| 2020 | 194 |
| 2019 | 192 |
| 2018 | 196 |
| 2017 | 217 |
| 2016 | 232 |
| 2015 | 207 |
| 2014 | 218 |
| 2013 | 227 |
| 2012 | 209 |
| 2011 | 201 |
| 2010 | 134 |
| 2009 | 141 |
| 2008 | 134 |
| 2007 | 126 |
| 2006 | 123 |
| 2005 | 74 |
| 2004 | 70 |
| 2003 | 69 |
| 2002 | 46 |
| 2001 | 39 |
| 2000 | 42 |
| 1999 | 28 |
| 1998 | 18 |
| 1997 | 17 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1994 | 23 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1992 | 19 |
| 1991 | 17 |
| 1990 | 25 |
| 1989 | 9 |
| 1988 | 14 |
| 1987 | 21 |
| 1986 | 17 |
| 1985 | 15 |
| 1984 | 23 |
| 1983 | 20 |
| 1982 | 8 |
| 1981 | 12 |
| 1980 | 19 |
| 1979 | 15 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 13 |
| 1976 | 14 |
| 1975 | 8 |
| 1974 | 13 |
| 1973 | 7 |
| 1972 | 9 |
| 1971 | 10 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1969 | 8 |
| 1966 | 10 |
| 1965 | 9 |
| 1964 | 6 |
| 1963 | 7 |
| 1962 | 7 |
| 1954 | 7 |
| 1953 | 5 |
| 1952 | 5 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1918 | 5 |
| 1898 | 5 |