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Name Lineage

    The first name Laila

    A girl’s name from Arabic meaning “night”.

    Pronounced /ˈleɪlə/ 2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Arabic origin

    Laila means “night” in Arabic.

    Variant of Leila and Layla, from Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā), related to لَيْلَة (layla, “night”).

    More names that mean night.

    A form of Leila.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 151 girls were named Laila, making it the 295th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2010, with 616 births (#95).

    0350700 1996200020052010201520202025
    6,975
    babies named Laila, 1996–2025
    #295
    rank in 2025
    2010
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Laila with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Laila at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 755 girls born in the United States were named Laila, the 413th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2008, when 2,414 were.

    01,5003,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    43,507
    babies named Laila since 1880
    #413
    rank in 2025
    2008
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Laila

    19 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Laila Ali
      American television personality and retired professional boxer, born 1977
    • Laila Lalami
      American writer, born 1968
    • Laila Robins
      American actress, born 1959
    • Laila Halme
      Finnish singer (1934–2021)
    • Laila Haidari
      Afghan human rights activist, born 1978
    • Laila Soueif
      Egyptian activist, mathematician, professor, born 1956
    • Laila Rouass
      British actress, born 1971
    • Laila Youssifou
      Dutch rower, born 1996
    • Laila Elouy
      Egyptian actress, born 1962
    • Laila Iskander
      Egyptian social entrepreneur and politician, born 1949
    • Laila Hirvisaari
      Finnish writer, 1938–2021
    • Laila Edwards
      American ice hockey player (born 2004)

    More Arabic girls’ names

    All 218 names of Arabic origin

    Questions

    What does the name Laila mean?
    Laila means “night” in Arabic.
    What is the origin of the name Laila?
    Variant of Leila and Layla, from Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā), related to لَيْلَة (layla, “night”).
    How popular is the name Laila?
    In 2025, 151 girls born in England and Wales were named Laila, ranking 295th. Its peak was 2010, with 616 births.
    Is Laila a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 43,507 US babies named Laila since 1880 were girls.
    When was Laila most popular?
    2008 in the United States, when 2,414 babies were named Laila, its highest rank at 140th.
    How do you pronounce Laila?
    Laila is /ˈleɪlə/, 2 syllables.
    What name is Laila a form of?
    Laila is a form of Leila.