Leela Girl

Popularity: #773 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

MiraNinaTaraRheaSitaZara

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.

LilaLaylaLeahLenaLiviaLaraLolaLina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Leela was first seen in the United States in 1898.

Leela has ranked as high as #2003 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.

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 Total Births Girl
2025 175 175
2024 185 185
2023 179 179
2022 179 179
2021 179 179
2020 194 194
2019 192 192
2018 196 196
2017 217 217
2016 232 232
2015 207 207
2014 218 218
2013 227 227
2012 209 209
2011 201 201
2010 135 135
2009 141 141
2008 134 134
2007 126 126
2006 123 123
2005 74 74
2004 70 70
2003 69 69
2002 46 46
2001 39 39
2000 42 42
1999 28 28
1998 18 18
1997 17 17
1996 16 16
1995 16 16
1994 23 23
1993 15 15
1992 19 19
1991 17 17
1990 25 25
1989 9 9
1988 14 14
1987 21 21
1986 17 17
1985 15 15
1984 23 23
1983 20 20
1982 8 8
1981 12 12
1980 19 19
1979 15 15
1978 14 14
1977 13 13
1976 14 14
1975 8 8
1974 13 13
1973 7 7
1972 9 9
1971 10 10
1970 6 6
1969 8 8
1966 10 10
1965 9 9
1964 6 6
1963 7 7
1962 7 7
1954 7 7
1953 5 5
1952 5 5
1947 6 6
1942 5 5
1941 5 5
1920 5 5
1918 5 5
1898 5 5

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. 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
CA 27
20%
IL 14
11%
NY 14
11%
TX 11
8%
PA 10
8%
OH 8
6%
TN 8
6%
MD 8
6%
GA 7
5%
MA 7
5%
NJ 7
5%
WA 6
5%
MN 5
4%