Given name · also Sanskrit
Leela
“play”·“An accomplished actress”
Leela draws on a Sanskrit word for play, with both everyday and religious associations.
Meaning & origin
What it means
The direct Sanskrit meaning is “play.” “An accomplished actress” is another interpretation associated with Indian naming use, rather than the word’s literal translation.
Where it comes from
Leela comes from Sanskrit līlā, “play.”
How it developed
The word līlā appears in Sanskrit epics and classical writing. Its senses include playful activity, romantic play and the taking on of disguises.
The story
In some Hindu philosophical traditions, līlā describes divine creative activity. That religious use gives the name an association with the idea of divine play.
Leela through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,545
- 0 boys · 4,545 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 232 babies
- 2025
- 175
- #1,282 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −13%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 175 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,282 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 13.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 232 in 2016. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (32). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,611 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.
Leela’s family of names
In English usage, Leela has a related form in Lila. Leela has a related form in Lila. Leela has a related form in Laila.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Leela
- Leela ChitnisIndian actress (1909-2003)
- Leela NaiduIndian actress (1940–2009)
- Leela MajumdarIndian author of children's books (1908–2007)
- Leela RoyIndian independence activist and politician1900–1970
- Leela JamesAmerican musicianborn 1983
- Leela GandhiIndian-born literary and cultural theoristborn 1966
- Leela OmcheryIndian singer1929–2023
- Leela SamsonIndian choreographerborn 1951
- Leela SavastaCanadian actressborn 1985
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Leela, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Sila
“a well-behaved, chaste woman”
>99% girls
Aadhya
Aadhya is a feminine given name from Indian.
>99% girls
Navya
“one who is youthful”
>99% girls
Laasya
“a graceful dancer”
>99% girls
Laksha
“as beautiful as a white rose”
>99% girls
Shaila
“of the mountain stone”
>99% girls
Isha
“the protector” · “a lively woman”
>99% girls
Ellora
“from the cave temples”
>99% girls