Layla
Layla is a girl's name of Arabic origin.
Meaning
Night, dark beauty, or born at night.
Origin and history
Layla is a classic name of Arabic origin meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty.' It gained widespread popularity in the Western world through Eric Clapton's iconic 1970 rock song 'Layla,' which was inspired by a traditional Middle Eastern love story. Today, it stands as a consistently top-ranking, beloved choice for girls in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
129,136 babies in the United States have been named Layla since 1880. It ranks #312 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #32.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.2 %)
- TX (10.2 %)
- FL (6.2 %)
- NY (5.4 %)
- OH (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 19 |
| 1960-1970 | 24 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,355 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,052 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,189 |
| 2000-2010 | 26,209 |
| 2010-2019 | 63,242 |
| 2020-2029 | 35,046 |
Famous people named Layla
- Layla El: Wrestler, Model
- Layla Kayleigh: Television Presenter, Journalist
Nicknames
Lay, Lulu
Fun facts
- The name stems from 'Layla and Majnun,' a famous 7th-century Arabian story of star-crossed lovers often compared to Romeo and Juliet.
- Guitarist Eric Clapton popularized the name in modern pop culture with his hit 1970 song 'Layla.'