Lelah Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LAY-lah /ˈleɪ.lə/
Origin: Hebrew; Arabic
Meaning: Hebrew: 'delicate'; Arabic: 'night'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Lelah has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the word "lailah," which means "night." This etymological connection reflects a broader tradition in Hebrew names that often draw on natural elements or phenomena. The name made its way into English through various linguistic transitions, notably via the Arabic form "Laila," which also means "night." The incorporation of Lelah into English-speaking contexts likely occurred during the 19th century, as Hebrew names gained popularity among Jewish communities and were subsequently adopted by broader society, particularly in the context of the Romantic movement that celebrated nature and the night sky.
Historically, the name Lelah has been associated with various cultural and religious narratives. In Jewish tradition, names often carry significant meanings and are chosen for their spiritual connotations.
While there are no prominent biblical figures named Lelah, the name's connection to the concept of night can evoke themes of mystery, beauty, and introspection, which have been celebrated in literature and poetry throughout the ages. The name's resonance can also be seen in various works of art and literature that explore themes of night and femininity, contributing to its enduring appeal.
Culturally, Lelah embodies a sense of elegance and tranquility, often associated with the calmness of the night. This connection to night has made it a favored choice in various artistic expressions, symbolizing depth and the unknown.
The name may also have diminutive forms, such as Lela, which have been used in different cultures, further enhancing its versatility and charm. Overall, Lelah's etymological roots, historical significance, and cultural associations contribute to its rich heritage.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lelah, 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 Lelah. 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 Lelah was first seen in the United States in 1881.
Lelah has ranked as high as #1910 nationally, which occurred in 1915, and has been most popular in Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, and Missouri.
In the past 5 years the name Lelah has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Lelah 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 Lelah 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 Lelah.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 10 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 |
| 2023 | 14 | 14 |
| 2022 | 14 | 14 |
| 2021 | 12 | 12 |
| 2020 | 16 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 |
| 2018 | 22 | 22 |
| 2017 | 14 | 14 |
| 2016 | 19 | 19 |
| 2015 | 20 | 20 |
| 2014 | 20 | 20 |
| 2013 | 12 | 12 |
| 2012 | 21 | 21 |
| 2011 | 19 | 19 |
| 2010 | 22 | 22 |
| 2009 | 21 | 21 |
| 2008 | 27 | 27 |
| 2007 | 23 | 23 |
| 2006 | 26 | 26 |
| 2005 | 28 | 28 |
| 2004 | 16 | 16 |
| 2003 | 8 | 8 |
| 2002 | 9 | 9 |
| 2001 | 8 | 8 |
| 2000 | 8 | 8 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 |
| 1996 | 10 | 10 |
| 1992 | 7 | 7 |
| 1991 | 7 | 7 |
| 1989 | 5 | 5 |
| 1988 | 9 | 9 |
| 1987 | 9 | 9 |
| 1986 | 6 | 6 |
| 1984 | 9 | 9 |
| 1982 | 7 | 7 |
| 1981 | 5 | 5 |
| 1980 | 9 | 9 |
| 1979 | 5 | 5 |
| 1978 | 5 | 5 |
| 1977 | 10 | 10 |
| 1975 | 10 | 10 |
| 1974 | 8 | 8 |
| 1973 | 6 | 6 |
| 1972 | 9 | 9 |
| 1971 | 5 | 5 |
| 1970 | 6 | 6 |
| 1969 | 7 | 7 |
| 1967 | 6 | 6 |
| 1966 | 6 | 6 |
| 1965 | 5 | 5 |
| 1962 | 5 | 5 |
| 1961 | 6 | 6 |
| 1960 | 7 | 7 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 |
| 1957 | 5 | 5 |
| 1956 | 6 | 6 |
| 1955 | 5 | 5 |
| 1954 | 6 | 6 |
| 1953 | 9 | 9 |
| 1952 | 5 | 5 |
| 1951 | 9 | 9 |
| 1949 | 8 | 8 |
| 1948 | 7 | 7 |
| 1947 | 6 | 6 |
| 1946 | 8 | 8 |
| 1945 | 9 | 9 |
| 1944 | 6 | 6 |
| 1943 | 8 | 8 |
| 1942 | 8 | 8 |
| 1941 | 9 | 9 |
| 1940 | 13 | 13 |
| 1939 | 10 | 10 |
| 1938 | 16 | 16 |
| 1937 | 12 | 12 |
| 1936 | 13 | 13 |
| 1935 | 16 | 16 |
| 1934 | 17 | 17 |
| 1933 | 21 | 21 |
| 1932 | 25 | 25 |
| 1931 | 23 | 23 |
| 1930 | 20 | 20 |
| 1929 | 22 | 22 |
| 1928 | 20 | 20 |
| 1927 | 35 | 35 |
| 1926 | 29 | 29 |
| 1925 | 33 | 33 |
| 1924 | 25 | 25 |
| 1923 | 31 | 31 |
| 1922 | 38 | 38 |
| 1921 | 38 | 38 |
| 1920 | 35 | 35 |
| 1919 | 42 | 42 |
| 1918 | 29 | 29 |
| 1917 | 43 | 43 |
| 1916 | 37 | 37 |
| 1915 | 43 | 43 |
| 1914 | 24 | 24 |
| 1913 | 27 | 27 |
| 1912 | 21 | 21 |
| 1911 | 18 | 18 |
| 1910 | 25 | 25 |
| 1909 | 17 | 17 |
| 1908 | 13 | 13 |
| 1907 | 16 | 16 |
| 1906 | 19 | 19 |
| 1905 | 20 | 20 |
| 1904 | 26 | 26 |
| 1903 | 24 | 24 |
| 1902 | 24 | 24 |
| 1901 | 19 | 19 |
| 1900 | 33 | 33 |
| 1899 | 27 | 27 |
| 1898 | 39 | 39 |
| 1897 | 33 | 33 |
| 1896 | 23 | 23 |
| 1895 | 27 | 27 |
| 1894 | 26 | 26 |
| 1893 | 32 | 32 |
| 1892 | 30 | 30 |
| 1891 | 29 | 29 |
| 1890 | 28 | 28 |
| 1889 | 24 | 24 |
| 1888 | 19 | 19 |
| 1887 | 17 | 17 |
| 1886 | 15 | 15 |
| 1885 | 18 | 18 |
| 1884 | 12 | 12 |
| 1883 | 13 | 13 |
| 1882 | 11 | 11 |
| 1881 | 10 | 10 |
Top States for Lelah (2005)
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 | 6 |