Leili Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LAY-lee /ˈleɪli/
Origin: Persian; Arabic
Meaning: Persian: nightingale; Arabic: a form of the name Layla meaning night
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Leili has its roots in Persian, derived from the word "laili," which means "night." This etymology connects to the Arabic word "layl," also meaning "night," and reflects a broader linguistic heritage that traverses several cultures and languages. The name is often associated with beauty and mystery, embodying the enchanting qualities attributed to the night sky.
The transition of the name into English can be traced through Persian literature and folklore, particularly through the famous romantic tale of "Layla and Majnun," which has been adapted and retold in various cultures, including Persian and Arabic traditions. Historically, the narrative of Layla and Majnun has been significant since at least the 7th century, with the most notable literary rendition by the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi in the 12th century.
This epic poem has influenced countless works in both Eastern and Western literature, establishing Layla as a symbol of unattainable love and deep passion. The story's themes have resonated through centuries, making the name Leili synonymous with romantic idealism in various cultural contexts.
Culturally, the name Leili carries connotations of beauty, longing, and the ethereal qualities associated with the night. In Persian poetry, the night is often depicted as a time of love and reflection, further enhancing the name's allure.
The name's association with night also connects it to various traditions and celebrations that honor the beauty of the night sky, such as the Persian festival of Yalda, which celebrates the winter solstice. Through its rich historical and cultural significance, the name Leili endures as a poetic and evocative choice, embodying the timeless themes of love and beauty.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Leili, 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 Leili. 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 Leili was first seen in the United States in 1998.
Leili has ranked as high as #1345 nationally, which occurred in 2020, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Leili has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Leili 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 Leili was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Leili
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.
No state data available for this year.
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 Leili.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 1998 | 5 |