Girl name · Arabic
Leila
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: night, from Arabic laylLeila is a girl's name that comes from Arabic and means "night, from Arabic layl". It is used in Persian, Arabic and English.
- Meaning
- Night, from Arabic layl
- Origin
- Arabic
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #259 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Leila
As a girl's name, Leila comes from Arabic and means "night, from Arabic layl". It is used in Persian, Arabic and English.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Leila on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Leila on 2 lists.
“Night; from Arabic layl. Loved across the Arabic and Persian worlds”
From Gothic names, names that mean dark, night or raven
“Night; the Persian and Arabic spelling popular worldwide”
From Names that mean shadow, names that mean night
How popular is Leila?
- US rank in 2025
- #259
- 1,193 babies, 742 per million girls
- Best rank
- #165 in 1880
- Most babies: 1,509 in 2010
- Babies since 1880
- At least 55,436
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 822 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 715 per million |
| 1900s | 522 per million |
| 1910s | 347 per million |
| 1920s | 279 per million |
| 1930s | 232 per million |
| 1940s | 128 per million |
| 1950s | 90 per million |
| 1960s | 86 per million |
| 1970s | 105 per million |
| 1980s | 123 per million |
| 1990s | 121 per million |
| 2000s | 536 per million |
| 2010s | 795 per million |
| 2020s | 792 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #229 | #220 | #239 | #225 | #205 | #214 | #246 | #240 | #267 | #259 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Leila
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- LaylaNight, from Arabic layl (Arabic, girl)
- LeylaNight, from Arabic layl (Arabic, girl)
Names spelled like Leila
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- LeiaForm of Leah; Princess Leia in Star Wars (Hebrew, girl)
- LilaVariant of Leila, night, or short form of Delilah (Arabic, girl)
- LisaGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
- LiaItalian, Portuguese and Greek form of Leah (Hebrew, girl)
- LeonaLioness (Greek, girl)
- LilyLily flower (English, girl)
- LuisaFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- LeilaniHeavenly flowers; royal child (Hawaiian, girl)
- LaiaWell spoken (Greek, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- AmariMeaning uncertain, perhaps from Arabic Ammar (Arabic, unisex)
- AtienoBorn at night (Luo, girl)
- ChausikuBorn at night (Swahili, girl)
- EsraNight journey (Arabic, girl)
- IsraNight journey (Arabic, girl)
- LilahVariant of Leila, night, or short form of Delilah (Arabic, girl)
- LilithOf the night, from Akkadian lilitu (Akkadian, girl)
- LylaVariant of Leila, night, or feminine form of Lyle (Arabic, girl)
- MāhealaniNight of the full moon (Hawaiian, girl)
- NishaThe night (Sanskrit, girl)
- NyxNight (Greek, girl)
- OtienoBorn at night (Luo, boy)
- RajaniNight, darkness (Sanskrit, unisex)
- RatriNight (Sanskrit, girl)
- SawsanArabic form of Susanna, lily (Hebrew, girl)
Middle names for Leila
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Arabic
- AliyahVariant of Aaliyah, high, lofty, sublime (Arabic, girl)
- FatimaOne who abstains (Arabic, girl)
- NoorLight, radiance (Arabic, unisex)
- SadafSeashell, mother-of-pearl (Arabic, girl)
- AaliyahFeminine form of Aali, high, lofty, sublime (Arabic, girl)
- AishaAlive, living (Arabic, girl)
- AmberAmber, golden fossil resin (Arabic, girl)
- AminaSafe, secure; also trustworthy, faithful (Arabic, girl)
- BushraGood news (Arabic, girl)
- FalakCelestial sphere, sky (Arabic, unisex)
- FarahJoy, happiness (Arabic, girl)
- FaridaUnique, matchless (Arabic, girl)
- FirdausParadise (Arabic, unisex)
- HilalCrescent moon (Arabic, unisex)
- NasimBreeze (Arabic, unisex)
- SaharDawn (Arabic, girl)
- SalmaSafe, peaceful (Arabic, girl)
- ShamsSun (Arabic, unisex)
Leila: common questions
What does the name Leila mean?
Leila comes from Arabic and means "night, from Arabic layl".
Is Leila a boy or girl name?
Leila is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Leila come from?
Leila comes from Arabic and means "night, from Arabic layl". Today it is used in Persian, Arabic and English.
How popular is the name Leila?
Leila ranked #259 in the US in 2025, with 1,193 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Leila?
Forms of Leila with the same meaning and origin include Layla (English) and Leyla (Turkish).
What middle names go with Leila?
Middle names that flow well with Leila include Briar, Delphine, Fenella, Heather and Naomi. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.