Declining since 2011, #6,546 for girls today.
Popularity of Lelia since 1880
Babies named Lelia per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lelia's real moment was 1882.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 987 |
| 1890s | 1,487 |
| 1900s | 1,476 |
| 1910s | 2,308 |
| 1920s | 2,688 |
| 1930s | 1,674 |
| 1940s | 1,439 |
| 1950s | 1,117 |
| 1960s | 687 |
| 1970s | 359 |
| 1980s | 300 |
| 1990s | 252 |
| 2000s | 353 |
| 2010s | 347 |
| 2020s | 171 |
Meaning & origin
Lelia saw its peak popularity in 1882, ranking 6546th in 2025, with about 1 in 94,545 girls receiving the name that year. Its trajectory has been falling since 2011, reflecting a broader decline of vintage names from the 1880s. Though it has not experienced a revival, Lelia retains a delicate, old-fashioned charm that appeals to parents seeking rare, historically-rooted names.
Lelia is most often considered a variant of Leila, from the Arabic word 'layla' meaning 'night'. The spelling with an 'e' became common in English-speaking countries in the 19th century, likely influenced by the popularity of other names ending in -lia. It was used in literature, such as in Maria Edgeworth's novels, though its use has declined since its peak in the 1880s.
Where Lelia 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.
“Lelia” around the world
Where Lelia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lee, Lea, Lia, Leli
Sibling names for Lelia
Names that share Lelia's style, for a brother or sister.
