Rising since 1985, #611 for girls today.
Popularity of Leyla since 1957
Babies named Leyla per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 23 |
| 1960s | 73 |
| 1970s | 354 |
| 1980s | 243 |
| 1990s | 456 |
| 2000s | 2,404 |
| 2010s | 4,096 |
| 2020s | 2,915 |
Meaning & origin
Leyla is a name of Arabic origin meaning 'night', and it has become increasingly popular in the United States since the mid-1980s. It first appeared on the U.S. baby name charts in 1957, but its usage remained sporadic until the 1980s, when it began a steady rise. By 2025, it reached rank 611, with about 1 in 3,362 newborn girls receiving the name. Its peak year so far is 2024, reflecting its growing appeal. The name is most popular in Rhode Island, Florida, and New York, showing a concentration in states with diverse populations. Leyla is a phonetic variant of the more common Layla, and its spelling offers a distinctive yet familiar alternative.
Leyla is a variant of Layla, derived from the Arabic word 'layl' meaning night. It is traditionally interpreted as 'night' or 'born at night'. The name is also used in Persian and Turkish cultures. In Arabic literature, Layla is the beloved of Qays in the classic tale of 'Layla and Majnun', a story of tragic love.
Where Leyla 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.
“Leyla” around the world
Where Leyla lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
215
babies in 2024
Ireland
7
babies in 2025
Quebec
27
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ley, Lala, Leyley
Sibling names for Leyla
Names that share Leyla's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Zara, Nora, Amira, Yara, Lena, Dua, Elif, Asli, Aysel, Dilara, Esma, Fatma, Kimia, Melek, Nazli, Yailin, Yasemin, Adalet, Delara, Esmeray, Fadumo, Kimiya, Ladan, Marjan, Mehr, Meryem, Miray, Sibel, Derya, Fartun, Shiraz, Aidana, Arzu, Bilan, Heran, Mayreli, Meral, Merve, Selin, Setareh
Brothers: Zayn, Omar, Khalil, Elias, Samir, Aydin, Aslan, Duran, Evren, Osman, Adem, Arash, Arda, Arsalan, Arshan, Aylan, Azad, Erol, Kadir, Kerem, Milad, Mirza, Naveed, Parsa, Pasha, Ramin, Saman, Ashkan, Ata, Baran, Dastan, Ekin, Izyan, Kagan, Kemal, Kerim, Matin, Murat, Orhan, Reyhan, Suleyman, Timur, Turhan, Altan, Arslan, Ayhan, Cem, Davari, Erdem, Furkan, Kayhan, Kuzey, Nikan, Sarp, Senay, Seyed, Teoman, Zeki
Names like Leyla
Names whose popularity has moved with Leyla's over the last 50 years.
