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At a Glance: Name: Lila – Meaning: night (Arabic, via Layla) or play/charm (Sanskrit līlā), depending on origin – Origin: Arabic, Sanskrit – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: LY-lah
Lila is pronounced LY-lah, and it actually carries two separate backstories depending on which root you trace: in Arabic, via Layla, it means 'night,' while in Sanskrit the word līlā means 'play' or 'charm.' You may have seen it described as meaning 'dark beauty,' but that gloss doesn't hold up — the sources only back 'night' or 'play/charm.' It's classified as a classic name, with that dual-origin story built right in.
Meaning & Origin of Lila
Meaning: Night (arabic, via layla) or play/charm (sanskrit līlā), depending on origin.
Origin: Arabic, Sanskrit.
A common claim: Lila is often said to mean 'dark beauty.' Actually: That gloss doesn't hold up — Lila carries two attested senses: 'night' (Arabic, via Layla) or 'play/charm' (Sanskrit līlā), depending on origin.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Lila
Phonetic: LY-lah IPA: /ˈlaɪlə/
Popularity of Lila
Lila peaked at #155 on the SSA list in 2010, when 1,969 babies were given the name; by 2024 it had eased to #207, with 1,475 babies.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Lila Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Lila, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
FAQ
What does the name Lila mean?
Night (arabic, via layla) or play/charm (sanskrit līlā), depending on origin. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Lila)
How do you pronounce Lila?
Lila is pronounced LY-lah (IPA: /ˈlaɪlə/).
Is Lila a popular name right now?
Lila peaked at #155 in 2010 and is ranked #207 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Lila? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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