Declining since 2018.
Popularity of Laelah since 2001
Babies named Laelah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 101 |
| 2010s | 297 |
| 2020s | 76 |
Meaning & origin
Laelah is a modern American name that first appeared in the Social Security Administration's records in 2001, reflecting a trend of phonetic respellings of classic names. The name peaked in popularity in 2017, but since 2018 it has been on a downward trajectory, with fewer than 100 births per year in recent years. Its origins lie in the Arabic name Layla, meaning 'night', though the specific spelling Laelah is a 21st-century innovation. The name is rarely given, placing it outside the top 1,000 names nationally, and it has no concentration in any particular state. Laelah remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a melodic, modern-sounding name with ties to the enduring Layla tradition.
Laelah is a contemporary spelling variant of Layla (also Leila), a name of Arabic origin meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty'. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 20th century, with the phonetic spelling Laelah emerging in the 2000s as part of a trend of unique name spellings.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lae, Lala, Lay
Sibling names for Laelah
Names that share Laelah's style, for a brother or sister.
