Layla is an Arabic name meaning “night”, from layl, the Arabic word for night-time. Women Companions of the Prophet bore it, Arabic and Persian poets have loved it for over a thousand years, and it is now chosen far beyond Muslim families. In 2025 Layla was the 50th most popular girls’ name in England and Wales.
What does Layla mean?
Layla comes from layl, night. Some dictionaries give the fuller sense “dark beauty” or “born at night”, drawing on the poetic image of night as calm and beautiful. The name is not used as a personal name in the Qur’an, but night is honoured there again and again: Allah swears by the night (92:1; 93:2), the Night Journey of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took place at night (17:1), and the greatest night of the year, Laylat al-Qadr, is “better than a thousand months” (97:3).
How do you pronounce Layla?
In English, say LAY-la. In Arabic it is closer to LAY-laa, with a long final vowel. The spelling Leila is often said LAY-la too, but sometimes LEE-la.
How do you spell Layla? Spellings and variants
- Layla: the most popular spelling in England and Wales.
- Laila and Lailah (common in South Asian families), Leila (Persian and French), Leyla (Turkish).
- Lyla and Lila sound similar but are usually treated as separate English names.
How popular is Layla in the UK?
Layla is now one of the top 50 girls’ names in England and Wales. In 2025, 833 girls were named Layla, up from 760, a rise of six places to 50th. It is chosen by families of many backgrounds.
| Spelling | Rank in 2025 | Babies in 2025 | Change since 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layla | 50 | 833 | up 6 places |
Layla in poetry and history
The most famous Layla is the heroine of Layla and Majnun, an old Arabian love story retold by the Persian poet Nizami in the twelfth century and loved across the Muslim world. In the west, the 1970 song “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos, inspired by Nizami’s poem, helped make the name familiar. The name has also been borne by women of the early Muslim community, including Layla bint Abi Hathmah, one of the Companions who migrated to Abyssinia.
Layla and the Hudhud book
Night is at the heart of the Hudhud book: a talking hoopoe taps at a child’s window at bedtime, and together they fly through the night to the stories of Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad (peace be upon them). For a girl called Layla, her name replaces the sample hero’s name, Yusuf, all through. Because the whole adventure takes place between bedtime and dawn, it makes a lovely bedtime book; see our Islamic bedtime stories for more.
What middle names go with Layla?
What are nicknames for Layla?
Lay, Lala and Lolo are popular with little ones.
What are good sibling names for Layla?
Sources and further reading
- ONS, Baby names for girls in England and Wales, 2025 edition (released 9 July 2026)
- Qur’an 97:1–5, Laylat al-Qadr
- Qur’an 92:1–2, Allah swears by the night
- Sahih Muslim 2139, the Prophet changes names with bad meanings
- Islamweb fatwa 81566: Layla as a name for a Muslim girl
- Wiktionary, ليلى: etymology and root
Frequently asked questions
What does Layla mean in Islam?
Layla is an Arabic name meaning “night”, from layl. Night is honoured in the Qur’an, especially Laylat al-Qadr, which is “better than a thousand months” (97:3).
Is Layla a Muslim name?
Yes. Layla was borne by women Companions of the Prophet, such as Layla bint Abi Hathmah, and the Prophet, who changed names with bad meanings (Sahih Muslim 2139), left theirs as they were. It is also popular with families of many other backgrounds.
Is Layla in the Qur’an?
Not as a name, but its root runs through the Qur’an: Allah swears by the night (92:1; 93:2), and Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, has a surah of its own (97).
How popular is Layla in the UK?
In 2025, 833 girls were named Layla in England and Wales, up from 760, ranking 50th (ONS). It peaked in 2012, with 1,796 girls, so it is less common than it was a decade ago.
What is the difference between Layla, Laila and Leila?
They are different spellings of the same Arabic name. Layla is the most common in England and Wales; Laila is common in South Asian families and Leila in Persian and French ones.
What are nicknames for Layla?
Lay, Lala and Lolo are popular with little ones.
What are good middle names for Layla?
Layla Maryam, Layla Noor (“night” and “light”), Layla Aisha and Layla Amira are popular combinations.