How to say it
LAY · luh
ˈleɪ.lə
Feminine
Layla
Night, dark beauty
What it means
From the Arabic Layla (ليلى), meaning 'night' or 'dark of the evening.' A name that holds the quiet hours.
The classical Arabic love story Layla and Majnun (8th century) is one of the foundational romances of Arabic and Persian literature, and one of the works that inspired Eric Clapton's 1970 song 'Layla.' The name has been popular across Muslim communities for centuries. The Clapton song carried it into English-speaking awareness, and the modern wave through the 2010s pushed Layla into the US top thirty for girls. The spelling varies (Leila, Laila, Leyla) but the pronunciation stays close to the Arabic original. Common short forms: Lay, Lala.
How to spell Layla
The standard spelling is Layla. Common variants include Leila, Laila, Layli, Leyla, but Layla is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #23 in 2019, currently #36 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Eric Clapton's 1970 song is the strongest English-language reference. The name is older and Arabic in origin, but most people will hum the guitar riff first.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Layla (Eric Clapton song) 1970 Derek and the Dominos track, that opening riff
Spelling variants
- Leila
- Laila
- Layli
- Leyla
Names with the same feeling
See Layla from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Layla mean?
- From the Arabic Layla (ليلى), meaning 'night' or 'dark of the evening.' A name that holds the quiet hours.
- What does Layla mean in Arabic?
- In Arabic, Layla means "Night, dark beauty." The classical Arabic love story Layla and Majnun (8th century) is one of the foundational romances of Arabic and Persian literature, and one of the works that inspired Eric Clapton's 1970 song 'Layla.' The name has been popular across Muslim communities for centuries. The Clapton song carried it into English-speaking awareness, and the modern wave through the 2010s pushed Layla into the US top thirty for girls. The spelling varies (Leila, Laila, Leyla) but the pronunciation stays close to the Arabic original. Common short forms: Lay, Lala.
- How do you pronounce Layla?
- Layla is pronounced ˈleɪ.lə. Say it as LAY-luh, with the stress on the "lay" syllable.
- How do you spell Layla?
- The standard spelling is Layla. Common spelling variants include Leila, Laila, Layli, Leyla.
- Is Layla a boy or girl name?
- Layla is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Layla?
- Layla ranked #36 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.