Laila
LAY-lah · 2 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Arabic ◈ 2 syllables
"Night"

From Arabic

Laila is Layla with an I — the same Arabic word for night, the same ancient love story, but with a spelling that leans slightly more Scandinavian and South Asian. In Norway and Denmark, Laila has been a top name for decades. Laila Ali, Muhammad Ali's daughter, gave this spelling a fighter's spirit. Two syllables of nocturnal beauty that span from Arabia to Scandinavia.

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Laila at a glance
MeaningNight
OriginArabic
GenderFemale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 8
US Rank (today)#236
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Why parents love Laila
  • The meaning night is mysterious and romantic.
  • Laila Ali is an undefeated boxing champion — serious strength.
  • Two syllables with a soft, swaying sound: LY-lah.
  • The I-spelling differentiates from the more common Layla.
  • It works in Arabic, Scandinavian, and South Asian cultures.
The vibe of Laila
nocturnalArabicScandinavianstrongromanticathleticmysteriousglobal
Origin & history of Laila
Arabic ليلى (laylā, night) variant spelling Laila
1
Arabic roots
Laila is a variant spelling of Layla, from the Arabic word for night. While Layla is the most common English spelling (influenced by Eric Clapton's song), Laila is the preferred form in Scandinavian countries, India, and Pakistan. Laila Ali (born 1977), daughter of Muhammad Ali, became an undefeated professional boxer — a remarkable achievement that gave this spelling athletic and warrior associations. The Layla/Laila love story (Qays and Layla) remains one of world literature's greatest romances.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Traditional Arabic name; the Laila spelling is particularly popular in Scandinavia and South Asia.
3
Today
Laila remains a beloved choice, ranking #236 in the US. 42,736 babies have been named Laila since 1884.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
How popular is Laila?
2008 peak year
Laila entered U.S. records in 1884, near the turn of the 20th century. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 2008, 2,413 babies received the name (ranked #140). Today it sits around #236, with roughly 1,408 babies named Laila each year. Laila has been declining in recent years. In total, around 42,736 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
2,413 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #140)
1,408 Avg. per year
(last decade)
14,080 Total registrations
last 10 years
42,736 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #236) Very popular
↓ Declining in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Laila
8
Life path number
The Achiever
Ambition, authority and material mastery.

Laila's Life Path 4 is the builder's number — practical strength beneath the nocturnal beauty. People named Laila tend to combine romantic depth with real-world toughness. Like Laila Ali, they're beautiful and they fight.

Beautiful and tough
Romantic pragmatist
Fights for what matters
Nocturnal strength
Builds in the dark
L3
A1
I9
L3
A1
Sum: 17 → Life path 8
Personality of Laila
💼
Built for success
They don't dream of achievement — they plan for it.
👑
Commanding presence
They walk in and people notice.
🔑
Strategic mind
Always three moves ahead.
💎
Unbreakable
Setbacks sharpen them. Resilience is in their DNA.
Names that sound like Laila

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Names that combine with Laila

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Laila.

Middle names for Laila

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

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7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Laila is a beautiful choice.
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