How to say it
LY · la
ˈlaɪ.lə
Feminine
Lyla
Night
What it means
Spelling variant of Layla, from Arabic Laylā ('night'). Same root, just the Anglo-spelling preference popular in the 2010s. Pronounced LYE-la rather than LAY-la in this spelling.
Lyla is the Anglo-spelling variant of Layla, from the Arabic Laylā ('night'). The original Arabic name carries the romantic weight of the 7th-century Layla and Majnun love story; the modern Lyla spelling drops the y for a different pronunciation (LYE-la rather than LAY-la). The spelling surged in the US in the 2010s as parents reached for a name that read distinctively without the obvious Layla association. Oasis's Lyla (2005) used the spelling for a song. It entered the US top 200 in 2017. No common short.
How to spell Lyla
The standard spelling is Lyla. Common variants include Layla, Leila, Lila, but Lyla is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #80 in 2025, currently #80 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
- Pronunciation
LYE-la (rhymes with 'tile-a'), distinguishing it from the related Layla (LAY-la). The Y-spelling drives the different vowel.
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.
- Lyla (Oasis song) 2005 single from Don't Believe the Truth
Spelling variants
- Layla
- Leila
- Lila
Names with the same feeling
See Lyla from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Lyla mean?
- Spelling variant of Layla, from Arabic Laylā ('night'). Same root, just the Anglo-spelling preference popular in the 2010s. Pronounced LYE-la rather than LAY-la in this spelling.
- What does Lyla mean in Arabic?
- In Arabic, Lyla means "Night." Lyla is the Anglo-spelling variant of Layla, from the Arabic Laylā ('night'). The original Arabic name carries the romantic weight of the 7th-century Layla and Majnun love story; the modern Lyla spelling drops the y for a different pronunciation (LYE-la rather than LAY-la). The spelling surged in the US in the 2010s as parents reached for a name that read distinctively without the obvious Layla association. Oasis's Lyla (2005) used the spelling for a song. It entered the US top 200 in 2017. No common short.
- How do you pronounce Lyla?
- Lyla is pronounced ˈlaɪ.lə. Say it as LY-la, with the stress on the "ly" syllable.
- How do you spell Lyla?
- The standard spelling is Lyla. Common spelling variants include Layla, Leila, Lila.
- Is Lyla a boy or girl name?
- Lyla is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Lyla?
- Lyla ranked #80 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.