Laila
Meaning of Laila
Laila drifts in on a whisper of midnight—the name comes from the Arabic word for “night,” and old Persian love‐poems cast her as the moonlit heroine of the tragic tale “Layla and Majnun.” Beyond the desert sands, Laila also pops up in Nordic storybooks (thanks to a Sami variation) and even glints in modern pop culture—from champion boxer Laila Ali’s knockout charisma to the soulful wail of Eric Clapton’s classic “Layla.” English speakers say it simply as LAY-luh, a breezy two-step that toddlers quickly master. In the United States, Laila spent most of the 20th century snoozing near the bottom of the charts, then launched a steady climb around the new millennium, peaking in the comfortable mid-100s before settling into today’s sweet-spot range in the 300s—popular enough to feel familiar, rare enough to stay special. For parents hunting a name that feels both starry and down-to-earth, Laila offers the best of night and light in just five graceful letters.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as LAY-luh (/leɪ.lə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Laila
| Laila Ali is an American television personality and retired undefeated boxing champion widely regarded as one of the greatest female boxers and the daughter of Muhammad Ali. |
| Laila Goodridge is a Canadian Conservative MP representing Fort McMurray Cold Lake in Alberta since 2021. |
| Laila Morse, born Maureen Lesley Bass, is an English actress who debuted in Nil by Mouth in 1997 and has played Mo Harris on EastEnders on and off since 2000. |
| Bollywood actress Laila Khan, who starred with Rajesh Khanna in the 2008 film Wafa A Deadly Love Story, was allegedly married to Munir Khan of a banned Bangladeshi group and was allegedly killed with relatives by her third father in Maharashtra in 2011. |
| Laila Taher is an Egyptian actress and presenter known for her collaborations with Salah Zulfikar and a prolific career of over 100 works, from films like Saladin the Victorious and Soft Hands to TV series such as Monsieur Le Directeur and The Family of Mr. Shalash. |
| Hajjah Laila Sari was an Indonesian comedian and singer of rock and songs for children known for her energetic old lady stage persona. |
| Afghan activist and restaurateur Laila Haidari founded the Mother Camp rehab in Kabul in 2010, funds it with her taboo breaking Taj Begum cafe, and was featured in the documentary Laila at the Bridge and on the BBC 100 Women 2021 list. |
| Laila Dogonyaro was a Nigerian activist who led womens groups, serving as president of the National Council of Womens Societies from 1993 to 1995 and earlier as secretary of Jamiyyar Matan Arewa in the early 1970s. |
| Laila Khan is a playback singer from Pakistan. |
| Laila Biali is a Canadian jazz singer and pianist, a Juno Award winner who has collaborated with Chris Botti and Sting. |
| Laila Taher Bugaighis is a Libyan doctor and human rights advocate. |
| Laila Nur was a pioneering Bangladeshi language movement activist and academic who in 1957 became the first female professor at Comilla Victoria Government College. |
| Laila Abdallah - Laila Abdullah Al-Fayed is a Lebanese actress based in Kuwait, known for her roles in television series across Kuwait and the Middle East. |
| Laila Samad was a Bangladeshi journalist, writer, and actress who received the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1981. |
| Laila Dåvøy - Laila Davoy is a Norwegian nurse and Christian Democratic politician, formerly a minister, parliament member, and leader of the Norwegian Nurses Union. |
