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Why parents love Layla- The meaning night is mysterious and romantic.
- The Layla and Majnun love story gives it centuries of poetic weight.
- Eric Clapton's song made it an instant classic in Western culture.
- Two syllables — LAY-lah — have a musical, swaying rhythm.
- It bridges Arabic and Western cultures beautifully.
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The vibe of Layla
romanticmusicalmysteriouspassionatepoeticArabiannocturnalenchanting
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Origin & history of Layla
Arabic ليلى (Laylā, night)
→ Persian poetry (Layla and Majnun)
→ English Layla (via Eric Clapton)
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Arabic roots
Layla comes from the Arabic word for night (laylā). The 7th-century story of Qays ibn al-Mulawwah, who went mad with love for a woman named Layla, became one of the greatest love stories in world literature. The Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi composed the definitive version in 1188, and it influenced poetry across the Islamic world for centuries. Eric Clapton's 1970 song Layla, inspired by the same story (Clapton was hopelessly in love with his best friend's wife), gave the name its Western breakthrough. The song's famous guitar riff is one of the most recognizable in rock history. Layla entered the US top 100 in 2006 and has climbed steadily.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: 7th century Arabic poetry; the love story of Qays and Layla (Layla and Majnun) was composed by Nizami Ganjavi in the 12th century.
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Today
Layla remains a beloved choice, ranking #28 in the US. 123,838 babies have been named Layla since 1950.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Encyclopaedia of Islam, Britannica, SSA data
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How popular is Layla?
2019
peak year
Layla has settled into a steady rhythm — neither rising sharply nor fading, holding a consistent place in U.S. birth records. It currently ranks in the top fifty (#28), with about 6,170 babies named Layla each year. Its all-time peak came in 2019, when it climbed to #23 with 6,518 registrations — the heart of the 2010s. Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 123,838.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
6,518
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #23)
(ranked #23)
6,170
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
61,700
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
123,838
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Layla6
Life path number
The Nurturer
Nurturing, love and responsibility.
Layla's Life Path 5 is the adventurer's number — fitting for a name that has travelled from 7th-century Arabia through Persian poetry to a rock anthem and into American nurseries. People named Layla tend to be passionate, magnetic, and drawn to beauty in all its forms.
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Deeply passionate✦
Magnetically charming◈
Drawn to beauty◎
Lives with intensity♡
Heart leads the wayL3
A1
Y7
L3
A1
Sum: 15 → Life path 6
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Personality of Layla❤️
Nurturing heart
They notice when someone is struggling before anyone else.
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Creates warmth
Their circle is warmer for their presence.
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Strong morals
They know what's right and stand by it.
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Quietly selfless
They give and give, often without realising how much.
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Famous people named LaylaClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
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Layla (from Layla and Majnun)
The beloved in one of the greatest love stories in world literature.
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Eric Clapton
Wrote the iconic rock song Layla (1970), inspired by the Arabic love story.
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Layla Ali
Daughter of Muhammad Ali, undefeated professional boxer.
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Layla El
WWE professional wrestler and Divas Champion.
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Layla Moran
British politician, leader of the Liberal Democrats.
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If you like Layla, you may also loveLeila
The Persian spelling — same pronunciation, different cultural emphasis.
Yasmin
Both are beloved Arabic-origin names with a romantic, fragrant quality.
Aria
Same musical, vowel-rich two syllables — Aria means melody.
Selena
Both are names connected to the night sky (Selena = moon).
Nadia
Shares Layla's Arabic/Slavic international appeal.
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Names that sound like LaylaIf you love Layla, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with LaylaSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Layla.
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Middle names for LaylaThe right middle name turns Layla into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Layla? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Layla →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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