What Does the Name Leila Mean?
Leila is a girl's name of Arabic origin meaning “night.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Leila |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Arabic |
| Meaning | night |
| Variants | Layla, Laila, Leyla, Layla, Leighla |
| Popularity | Widely used across the Middle East and the West; the Layla spelling in particular ranks among popular US girls' names. |
The meaning and origin of Leila
The name Leila means “night” and has Arabic origins. From Arabic layla meaning 'night', famous through the classic Arabic and Persian love story of Layla and Majnun. It entered the English-speaking world in the 19th century, partly through Byron's poetry.
Variants and related names
Leila is related to several other names you may recognize: Layla, Laila, Leyla, Layla, Leighla. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Leila?
Widely used across the Middle East and the West; the Layla spelling in particular ranks among popular US girls' names.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leila mean?+
The name Leila means “night” and is of Arabic origin.
What is the origin of the name Leila?+
Leila originates from Arabic.
Is Leila a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Leila has trended in the US over time.
Leila by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press