Lila
Lila is a girl's name of Arabic origin.
Meaning
Night, dark beauty, or playfulness.
Origin and history
Lila is a female name with roots in Arabic meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty', while also existing as a Sanskrit name meaning 'play' or 'divine play'. It has long been present in the United States and experienced a notable resurgence in popularity during the early 21st century. Parents are drawn to its melodic quality, brevity, and vintage charm.
Popularity in the United States
76,493 babies in the United States have been named Lila since 1880. It ranks #452 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #206.
States where it is most popular
- CA (7.9 %)
- NY (7.8 %)
- TX (6.4 %)
- IL (4.4 %)
- MI (4.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 691 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,673 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,337 |
| 1910-1920 | 5,567 |
| 1920-1930 | 10,304 |
| 1930-1940 | 7,840 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,408 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,569 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,905 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,234 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,255 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,560 |
| 2000-2010 | 9,036 |
| 2010-2019 | 16,568 |
| 2020-2029 | 8,546 |
Famous people named Lila
- Lila McCann: Singer, Songwriter
- Lila Lee: Actress
Fun facts
- Lila developed independently in Arabic referring to night and in Sanskrit referring to cosmic or divine play.
- Variants of the name, such as Leila or Layla, were popularized in Western literature through Lord Byron's poetry in the 19th century.