A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Leila since 1880
Babies named Leila per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2010, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Leila's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,079 |
| 1890s | 1,588 |
| 1900s | 1,529 |
| 1910s | 2,830 |
| 1920s | 3,340 |
| 1930s | 2,473 |
| 1940s | 1,852 |
| 1950s | 1,740 |
| 1960s | 1,578 |
| 1970s | 1,624 |
| 1980s | 2,106 |
| 1990s | 2,177 |
| 2000s | 9,904 |
| 2010s | 13,914 |
| 2020s | 7,702 |
Meaning & origin
Leila has been a consistent presence on American baby name charts since official records began in 1880. It peaked at rank 17 in 1891, a time when many Arabic-derived names were fashionable. After declining for decades, it began rising again in 1991, reflecting a broader revival of classic, melodic names. As of 2025, it ranks 259th, with about 1 in 1,347 girls receiving the name. The name is especially popular in Hawaii, Alaska, and Washington, D.C., showing its appeal in diverse regions. Its longevity and cross-cultural resonance make it a familiar yet distinctive choice.
Leila is an English spelling of the Arabic name Layla, meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty.' The name has been used in the Arabic-speaking world for centuries and spread to English-speaking countries via literary works such as Byron's 'The Giaour' (1813) and later popular songs. Its soft, melodic sound contributed to its enduring appeal.
Where Leila is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Leila” around the world
Where Leila lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
305
babies in 2024
Ireland
12
babies in 2025
New Zealand
24
babies in 2025
Quebec
48
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lay, Lee
Sibling names for Leila
Names that share Leila's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Lila, Nora, Zara, Amira, Maya, Aaliyah, Danna, Jada, Mia, Nia, Reese, Aleah, Aleia, Alita, Aliyah, Anaya, Ariyah, Ayana, Ayla, Carina, Elissa, Jaida, Jaliyah, Jayna, Kaela, Kaiya, Kala, Kami, Kamilah, Keila, Kesha, Keyla, Kiah, Layan, Naya, Nya, Nyah, Raina, Raya, Rayna, Rihanna, Shakira, Shyla, Soraya, Taliyah, Taya, Tehya, Tyra, Yasmeen, Yasmine, Ziya, Aida, Aleeah, Aleyah, Alizae, Alizah, Alya, Alyna, Anai, Analiyah, Ara, Arika, Aziyah, Candra, Dalilah, Damya, Danya, Jaela, Jailah, Kadijah, Kaira, Karizma, Karyme, Keana, Kena, Keya, Khali, Kiya, Kiyah, Kyana, Kyara, Lamya, Layah, Marya, Monae, Nadeen, Nailah, Naiya, Nayomi, Neida, Nida, Nyra, Raisa, Reema, Risa, Saba, Sabra, Sana, Saniah, Saray, Sariya, Sayra, Shala, Shanya, Sheyla, Sina, Tahlia, Tala, Talaya, Tyana, Yasmina, Zahara, Zaira, Zari, Zayna, Zoraida, Aariyah, Adeena, Ahmya, Aicha, Aixa, Aiya, Ajia, Akila, Akiya, Alania, Aleeya, Alinah, Alinna, Alishba, Aloni, Alyiah, Alyzah, Amariyah, Amel, Amera, Amila, Amylah, Amyrah, Anari, Anniyah, Asra, Avina, Ayanah, Ayzal, Caiya, Camia, Ceirra, Chanta, Daila, Emina, Evani, Faiza, Gila, Jadira, Jaidah, Jalah, Jaleen, Jaliah, Jamea, Jamica, Jasmina, Jaysa, Jeniah, Kahla, Kaiah, Kalilah, Kamori, Kareema, Kayah, Kayda, Keianna, Khaila, Khyra, Kiahna, Kitzia, Labria, Lahna, Lama, Lamiya, Lamiyah, Layal, Madai, Makya, Maleia, Meelah, Meher, Meika, Mesha, Mianna, Mikaya, Mikela, Mikia, Milaya, Minha, Mirah, Miraya, Mirha, Myanna, Mylia, Nadiyah, Nalia, Nariya, Nayah, Neyda, Niylah, Noha, Nura, Nyari, Nyia, Omaira, Raeya, Raia, Ramiya, Rayana, Riane, Rinoa, Riyah, Ruba, Saleen, Samayah, Sameera, Samyra, Sanah, Sephora, Seriyah, Shalimar, Shariah, Shyra, Suni, Suraya, Taia, Taija, Taijah, Taira, Tajah, Tamaya, Teala, Tiandra, Tiya, Tiyana, Tiyanna, Zaia, Zaliyah, Zoraya, Zyah, Zyana, Aalaya, Aaria, Aariya, Adana, Adeya, Ahlia, Ahmiya, Ahniya, Ahria, Aiesha, Ailah, Aiyah, Alayia, Aliyanah, Alylah, Amahia, Amali, Ameira, Amiera, Amika, Amiria, Anaaya, Anaisha, Analiya, Anija, Anira, Aniyha, Anysa, Arayna, Areesha, Arha, Arriyah, Ashana, Ashayla, Auda, Avya, Ayianna, Aylissa, Aysa, Azriella, Beya, Bisma, Braya, Caya, Chakira, Cyla, Danasha, Dariya, Diani, Eilah, Elaysia, Emira, Hania, Iliyah, Ilyana, Irania, Jaima, Jaira, Jajaira, Jameah, Janila, Jaysha, Jeyla, Jla, Kacia, Kadeja, Kalii, Kamile, Kamira, Kamyrah, Karem, Kasiyah, Kearah, Kemiya, Ketra, Khia, Kiaya, Kyliah, Mahum, Maisa, Makira, Meli, Miakoda, Mieka, Milisa, Mithra, Nadiah, Naveya, Nayda, Naysa, Nazanin, Niana, Niaomi, Niaya, Nyliah, Omaria, Pariss, Pharrah, Rashi, Rehanna, Riyana, Safiyya, Sairah, Saiya, Sala, Sameerah, Sanaia, Sanari, Sani, Sanyia, Sehar, Shanik, Sharmin, Shiya, Shya, Siarah, Suad, Tahja, Taila, Takita, Tamanna, Tamea, Tamu, Teila, Teyla, Tiaira, Tianah, Tiye, Tuleen, Wateen, Xamira, Yanel, Yasamin, Yeira, Yesli, Zahirah, Zahria, Zalika, Zamira, Zareth, Zhara, Arilla, Armiyah, Ayssa, Danira, Jayel, Jnya, Niala, Shayra, Toshua, Aaleeyah, Abia, Adiva, Ahsha, Aiylah, Ajanay, Akeila, Akesha, Alanya, Alazae, Aliea, Alisah, Alliya, Allyiah, Alysah, Ameka, Amiylah, Amreen, Amyre, Anaija, Aneeka, Angala, Annikah, Ariba, Arita, Ariyel, Arriah, Ashyla, Asyah, Aunya, Ayeshia, Azylah, Baneen, Casha, Ceasia, Cerria, Ciella, Cyenna, Daisa, Daizha, Dajai, Dakia, Dalida, Danahi, Danayah, Darria, Dashay, Deaisha, Denya, Deya, Deyani, Deysha, Emyah, Enisa, Etana, Fabiha, Farin, Hanae, Haniah, Heela, Ishia, Jadda, Jahira, Jahnai, Jaisha, Jamala, Jaryah, Jasmene, Jaylaa, Jnai, Julani, Kalya, Kasarah, Kasmira, Keiera, Keina, Kieana, Kitara, Laira, Lakiah, Lalena, Lamara, Lanyla, Layaan, Linah, Macaiah, Maiza, Maneh, Masiel, Mauriah, Maylah, Maysun, Meilah, Metha, Minsa, Mitra, Naika, Narah, Narmeen, Nashia, Naviyah, Nayari, Nayellie, Nayleah, Neelah, Nejla, Nioka, Niyomi, Nury, Phiona, Qianna, Qiara, Raisha, Reha, Rikia, Ruhee, Rula, Ryiah, Saelah, Saila, Saree, Sashia, Sedra, Semiyah, Seraya, Shaasia, Shahrzad, Shaia, Shaili, Shalika, Sham, Shamina, Shareen, Shyna, Siniya, Sira, Smaya, Soniyah, Sophea, Symia, Taeja, Taela, Taiyana, Tajia, Tarae, Tayjah, Teira, Tenea, Tinaya, Tyianna, Umeka, Waniya, Xayah, Yasaman, Yassmine, Zaharah, Zarahi, Zaryia, Ziasia, Zineb
Brothers: Amir, Elias, Samir, Omar, Kai, Kobe, Aryan, Davon, Jamel, Jarius, Lemar, Marquan, Riyan, Tariq, Yahir, Amere, Amil, Anay, Azai, Darious, Diante, Djuan, Idris, Itzae, Jakobi, Jameer, Jawan, Jayvion, Jomar, Keyan, Kylon, Martez, Najee, Nikko, Nyjah, Quadir, Rayaan, Shia, Tyreke, Yamil, Zamir, Adal, Adyan, Akim, Alias, Amire, Aquil, Arath, Arhan, Aymen, Azhar, Damier, Fareed, Jahan, Jahmel, Jamaris, Jamiel, Jayro, Jeremih, Jibran, Kalab, Kasai, Kassim, Kawan, Kayin, Kazi, Khary, Kiyon, Lamari, Nakai, Namari, Namir, Navid, Oumar, Rael, Raheen, Rahmel, Reza, Riyaan, Saahil, Samaj, Shah, Shaheem, Shaheen, Shakeem, Sharan, Siraj, Takari, Teon, Tevon, Tyreik, Wanya, Yamir, Zahmir, Zakee, Zalen, Zaydan, Zidan, Aadam, Aashir, Adis, Ahmaud, Ahmon, Alem, Amer, Amyr, Aryaan, Aryon, Barack, Cavon, Chamar, Damiri, Danyal, Demar, Derius, Devean, Dhilan, Eyoel, Ghazi, Hassen, Idriss, Imir, Jahaan, Jakel, Jamai, Jameal, Jasai, Jasier, Jayjay, Jovonni, Jovonte, Kalief, Kamali, Kamare, Kashon, Kayo, Keano, Kewan, Khalel, Khalon, Khani, Khizar, Kinan, Kishon, Kiyaan, Lejon, Lequan, Masin, Maykel, Mikhi, Nahzir, Nayib, Nijel, Omere, Ousman, Rafay, Raif, Rakai, Ryaan, Sabri, Sahmir, Syair, Taje, Tarius, Terek, Traivon, Tyheim, Yaziel, Yomar, Zaidan, Zaryan, Zavian, Zayvon, Zevin, Daruis, Kache, Yahsir, Aaban, Aarib, Akil, Anes, Aras, Ariez, Arkeem, Armari, Asil, Ayad, Basem, Derrico, Dhani, Ejay, Equan, Fateh, Fennec, Gahel, Hairo, Isahia, Ismar, Jacai, Jahmil, Jahron, Jaimin, Jaimir, Jaja, Jamail, Jamair, Jazir, Jovaun, Kadar, Kaelem, Kahil, Kaisan, Kalet, Kamai, Kashe, Kasheem, Kavian, Kayvan, Kendarrius, Khalin, Kire, Kobee, Kyrel, Lavie, Malic, Mian, Mounir, Mykale, Nahsir, Nameer, Neco, Nyheim, Nyron, Rafan, Ramal, Riaz, Saban, Sadiel, Seyon, Shadee, Sharbel, Shervin, Tahje, Tamaj, Tarez, Toben, Yosmar, Zamarian, Zamire, Zeric, Zhamir, Zinedine, Zoraiz
Names like Leila
Names whose popularity has moved with Leila's over the last 50 years.

