How to say it
LI · lah
ˈlaɪ.lə
Feminine
Lilah
Night, or 'divine play'
What it means
Spelling variant of Lila, with three converged roots: Arabic Laylah ('night,' same as Layla), Persian Lila ('purple, lilac'), and Sanskrit Lila ('divine play, cosmic dance'). The H-spelling tilts modern American.
Lilah is a spelling variant of Lila, with three converged roots. The Arabic Laylah means 'night' (same as Layla). The Persian Lila means 'lilac' or 'purple flower.' The Sanskrit Lila means 'divine play' or 'cosmic dance,' a key theological concept in Hindu philosophy. The H-spelling Lilah surfaced in US use in the 2010s as parents leaned into the vintage feel with a modern stylization. As a US given name Lilah entered the top 500 in 2018. Common short: Li or Lilah is already a short.
How to spell Lilah
The standard spelling is Lilah. Common variants include Lila, Layla, Leyla, but Lilah is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #179 in 2024, currently #179 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
- Spelling
Lila (no H) and Lilah (with H) are the same name; Lila is the slightly more common US spelling but Lilah is climbing.
- Pronunciation
LY-luh (rhymes with 'tile') is the dominant US pronunciation; LEE-luh is the Sanskrit and the alternate.
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.
- Lilah (modern naming) Vintage-revival diminutive used by celebrities including Jenna Bush Hager's daughter (born 2013)
Spelling variants
- Lila
- Layla
- Leyla
Names with the same feeling
See Lilah from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Lilah mean?
- Spelling variant of Lila, with three converged roots: Arabic Laylah ('night,' same as Layla), Persian Lila ('purple, lilac'), and Sanskrit Lila ('divine play, cosmic dance'). The H-spelling tilts modern American.
- What does Lilah mean in Persian?
- In Persian, Lilah means "Night, or 'divine play'." Lilah is a spelling variant of Lila, with three converged roots. The Arabic Laylah means 'night' (same as Layla). The Persian Lila means 'lilac' or 'purple flower.' The Sanskrit Lila means 'divine play' or 'cosmic dance,' a key theological concept in Hindu philosophy. The H-spelling Lilah surfaced in US use in the 2010s as parents leaned into the vintage feel with a modern stylization. As a US given name Lilah entered the top 500 in 2018. Common short: Li or Lilah is already a short.
- How do you pronounce Lilah?
- Lilah is pronounced ˈlaɪ.lə. Say it as LI-lah, with the stress on the "li" syllable.
- How do you spell Lilah?
- The standard spelling is Lilah. Common spelling variants include Lila, Layla, Leyla.
- Is Lilah a boy or girl name?
- Lilah is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Lilah?
- Lilah ranked #179 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.