Layla

At a Glance: Name: Layla – Meaning: night (from Arabic 'layl') – Origin: Arabic – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: LAY-lah

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Layla is an Arabic name, pronounced LAY-lah, and it simply means 'night' — from the Arabic word 'layl.' You may have heard it translated as 'dark beauty,' but that's a poetic embellishment rather than the literal meaning, which is just 'night.'

Meaning & Origin of Layla

Meaning: Night (from arabic 'layl').

Origin: Arabic.

A common claim: night, dark beauty Actually: 'Dark beauty' is a poetic embellishment, not the literal meaning, which is simply 'night.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Layla

Phonetic: LAY-lah   IPA: /ˈleɪlə/

Popularity of Layla

Layla ranked #37 in the U.S. in 2024, given to 5,305 babies, down from its peak of #23 in 2019, when 6,518 babies were named Layla.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1950–2024.

Make Layla Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Layla, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Aaliyah
• Aisha
• Alaia
• Amina
• Amira
• Asma

FAQ

What does the name Layla mean?

Night (from arabic ‘layl’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Layla)

How do you pronounce Layla?

Layla is pronounced LAY-lah (IPA: /ˈleɪlə/).

Is Layla a popular name right now?

Layla peaked at #23 in 2019 and is ranked #37 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1950–2024.)

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