The story behind Laila
Variant of Leila and Layla, from Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā), related to لَيْلَة (layla, “night”).
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Finnish entry
First recorded in Finland in 1875. Explained as a Sami name, and used for Sami heroines in films and literature, without clear etymological proof. Possibly a variant of Aila. It may also derive from Arabic لَيْلَة (layla, “night”), as a variant of Leila which is actually more popular in Finland than Laila.
German entry
Both from Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā) and Finnish Laila.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈleɪlə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- some women: /ˈlaɪlə/
- Finnish: /ˈlɑi̯lɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈlɑ̝i̯lɑ̝]
- German: /ˈlaɪ̯la/
Popularity
Laila ranked #413 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Laila
Layla
One of many alternative spellings of a name transliterated from Arabic; see Leila for more information. Since the late 20th century, in English, this given name in this…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Leila
From Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā). Taken into English usage through nineteenth-century literature. Ultimately from Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Lela
A female given name from Arabic, possibly a variant of Leila.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Leyla
Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ليلى (Leylâ), from Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Lila
Variant of Leila or Lilah, depending on pronunciation; also associated with Spanish lila (“lilac”). From Sanskrit लीला (līlā, “play, charm”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Lyla
A spelling variant of Leila.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Laila
Bağır
From Arabic بَاقِر (bāqir).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends R
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bahriye
Inherited from Ottoman Turkish بحریه, from Arabic بَحْرِيَّة (baḥriyya).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Berahim
From Arabic إِبْرَاهِيم (ʔibrāhīm), from Hebrew אַבְרָהָם (avrahám). Doublet of Ibrahim.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Laila
Aaliyah
Popularized by American singer Aaliyah Haughton (1979-2001). Transliteration of Arabic عَالِيَة (ʕāliya).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abacar
Borrowed from Arabic أَبُو بَكْر (ʔabū bakr, literally “father of a young camel; father of a person named Bakr”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abaz
Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish عباس (ʼabbas), from Arabic عَبَّاس (ʕabbās, literally “frowning; lion”). For the final /z/ compare abanoz. Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish عباس…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length