Leyla Girl

Popularity: #516 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LAY-lah //ˈleɪ.lə//

Origin: Arabic; Turkish; Persian

Meaning: Arabic: night; Turkish: dark beauty; Persian: lily

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Leyla has its roots in Arabic, derived from the word "layl," which means "night." This etymology reflects a poetic and romantic connotation, often associated with beauty and mystery. The name has been transliterated into various forms across different languages, including the Persian "Leila" and the Turkish "Leyla," which further solidified its presence in the cultural lexicon of the Middle East and Central Asia.

The transition into English occurred through literary and cultural exchanges, particularly during the 19th century when Western interest in Eastern literature and poetry grew. Historically, the name Leyla has been prominent in various literary works.

One of the most notable references is the Persian romantic epic "Khosrow and Shirin," attributed to the poet Nezami Ganjavi in the 12th century, where Leyla is depicted as a symbol of unattainable love. This narrative has influenced countless adaptations and interpretations in literature and art, contributing to the name's enduring legacy.

Additionally, the name appears in various forms in Arabic literature, where it is often associated with themes of love and longing. Culturally, Leyla has been embraced in various traditions, symbolizing beauty and the allure of the night.

Its resonance can be seen in poetry, music, and folklore, where the night is often celebrated as a time of romance and inspiration. The name's melodic quality and rich cultural associations have allowed it to maintain significance across different regions and eras.

In some cultures, diminutive forms like "Leila" or "Laila" are also used, further illustrating the name's adaptability and widespread appeal throughout history.

Famous people named Leyla

In this section, you will find notable people named Leyla. 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 Leyla who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Leyla 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.

Leyla Aliyeva is a philanthropist best known for her work with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and promoting cultural initiatives in Azerbaijan.

Leyla Milani is an actress and model best known for her appearances on The Price Is Right and as a contestant on NBC's Deal or No Deal.

Leyla Gencer is an opera singer best known for her performances in La Traviata, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly.

Fictional characters named Leyla

The following list of fictional characters named Leyla 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.

Leyla is a fictional character from the video game series Genshin Impact. She is a skilled archer and a member of the Liyue region's adepti, known for her dedication to protecting her homeland.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Leyla, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LinaLaylaLeenaLaraLilaLana

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Leyla. 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.

LeilaLailaLaylaLinaLaraMayaNina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Leyla was first seen in the United States in 1957.

Leyla has ranked as high as #1170 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and New Jersey.

In the past 5 years the name Leyla has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Leyla 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 Leyla 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 Leyla.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 478 478
2024 504 504
2023 493 493
2022 504 504
2021 440 440
2020 496 496
2019 401 401
2018 459 459
2017 485 485
2016 402 402
2015 361 361
2014 410 410
2013 447 447
2012 385 385
2011 376 376
2010 370 370
2009 389 389
2008 382 382
2007 367 367
2006 263 263
2005 245 245
2004 209 209
2003 170 170
2002 142 142
2001 132 132
2000 105 105
1999 83 83
1998 45 45
1997 57 57
1996 49 49
1995 47 47
1994 36 36
1993 39 39
1992 37 37
1991 35 35
1990 28 28
1989 29 29
1988 31 31
1987 24 24
1986 17 17
1985 25 25
1984 18 18
1983 28 28
1982 31 31
1981 19 19
1980 21 21
1979 31 31
1978 36 36
1977 40 40
1976 34 34
1975 43 43
1974 36 36
1973 52 52
1972 58 58
1971 15 15
1970 9 9
1969 9 9
1968 11 11
1967 8 8
1966 5 5
1965 13 13
1964 10 10
1963 5 5
1962 7 7
1960 5 5
1959 10 10
1958 8 8
1957 5 5

Top States for Leyla (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
TX 87
19%
CA 69
15%
NY 55
12%
FL 46
10%
IL 22
5%
NJ 22
5%
NC 16
3%
GA 16
3%
PA 13
3%
WA 13
3%
IN 11
2%
AZ 11
2%
MA 11
2%
OH 10
2%
CO 9
2%
CT 8
2%
VA 8
2%
NV 7
2%
TN 7
2%
MN 7
2%
MI 6
1%
MD 5
1%