Given name
Layla
“night”·“a beauty of the night; born at nightfall”
In English use, Layla has a related form in Leila. One Arabic interpretation is “night.” Layla is a variant of Laila. One Arabic interpretation is “a beauty of the night; born at nightfall.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Layla has a related form in Leila. One Arabic interpretation is “night.” Layla is a variant of Laila. One Arabic interpretation is “a beauty of the night; born at nightfall.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Arabic.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1950. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Layla has a related form in Leila. The history of Leila gives this family its wider story. Byron used Leila in The Giaour and Don Juan, and Edward Bulwer-Lytton used it for the heroine of his novel Leila. These works helped make the Arabic name familiar to English-speaking readers.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Layla through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 129,245
- 109 boys · 129,136 girls
- Most popular year
- 2019
- 6,528 babies
- 2025
- 5,338
- #36 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −10%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5,338 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 36 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 9.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 6,523 in 2019. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (624). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 84,915 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Layla’s family of names
In English usage, Layla has a related form in Leila. Layla has a related form in Laila.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Layla
- Layla ElBritish professional wrestler, dancer, and modelborn 1977
- Laila FawziEgyptian actress (1918–2005)
- Layla Al-AttarIraqi artist and painter (1944-1993)
- Layla al-AkhyaliyyaFamous Umayyad Arab poet who was renowned for her poetry, eloquence, strong personality as well as her beauty700–699
- Layla BaalbakiLebanese author1934–2023
- Layla MoranBritish politician (born 1982)
- Layla Kaylifsingerborn 1971
- Layla Anna-LeeEnglish television presenterborn 1983
- Layla AlmasriPalestinian-American middle- and long-distance runnerborn 1999
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Layla, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lila
“born at night” · “resembling a lily”
>99% girls
Lyla
“night” · “born at night”
>99% girls
Lylah
“night” · “born at night”
>99% girls
Lucy
“light”
>99% girls
Gianna
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Amelia
“one who is industrious and hardworking”
>99% girls
Scarlett
“vibrant red color; a vivacious woman”
>99% girls
Sofia
“wisdom” · “having great wisdom and foresight”
>99% girls