Leyla

The first name Leyla, used for girls, carries several meanings. Common interpretations include 'the beautiful night', 'the nocturnal one', and 'enchantment of the night', while it can also be understood as 'as beautiful as the night'. This ancient name has its roots in the Arabic language and dates back to pre-Islamic times.

What does the name Leyla mean?

Leyla is a female first name with diverse meanings. It is mainly understood as 'the beautiful night', 'the nocturnal one', or 'enchantment of the night', but can also be interpreted more broadly as 'as beautiful as the night'. The name has roots in pre-Islamic times and has Arabic origins. It is derived from the Arabic word lailā, which means 'night'. Another derivation may come from the Turkish word leylak, which describes the color 'violet' or 'lilac', referring to the color of lilacs. Associations with the name include 'nocturnal', 'a night', 'the dark one', 'dark night', as well as 'light in the dark distance', 'dark-skinned', 'the moon', and 'the moons'. Leyla also plays a central role in Turkish literature, where she is the protagonist in a tragic love story known from 'leyla ile mecnun'. The name can also be associated with 'everything that is beautiful' and 'in love with Allah/God'. The traditional form of the name is Laila, and there are numerous spelling variants, including Leila, Leilah, Layla, Lajla, Laeila, Lejla (Slavic), and Layli (Persian).

Where does the name Leyla come from?

The name Leyla has its roots in Arabic and Turkish. It is derived either from the Arabic term 'layla', meaning 'night', or from the Turkish word 'leylak', which describes the color 'lilac'. The composition comes from lailā (Arabic) for 'the night' or leylak (Turkish) for 'lilac'. The name is widespread in various languages, including American, Arabic, Azerbaijani, English, Kurdish, Persian, and Turkish.

How do you pronounce Leyla?

The pronunciation of Leyla is soft and two-syllable. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'Ley-la' [ˈleɪ̯la], with the diphthong 'ey' creating a lively sound. The open 'a' at the end provides a harmonious finish. Leyla sounds international and elegant - feminine, modern, and memorable.

When is the name day of Leyla?

The name day for Leyla is celebrated on January 1.

Popularity

In Germany, Leyla is among the popular first names. Currently, the name ranks 133rd among the most common female baby names. Leyla achieved its best ranking in 2022, reaching 78th place. Over the last ten years, the name has been given approximately 6,700 times, placing it 111th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, Leyla ranks 110th.

Nicknames & pet names

Jelo / Lala / Lalelu / Lali / Layalie / Lea / Leilani / Lela / Lele / Lelitschka / Ley / Leya / Leyl / Leyley / Leyli / Leylimley / Leylish / Leylo / Leyloke / Leylos / Leylosh / Leyloska / Leylu / Leyly / Leys / Lil / Lille / Lilly / Lilo / Lirumlarum Löffelstiel / Lye / Reyla

Similar first names

Famous people

• Leyla İpekçi (Turkish journalist and writer)
• Leyla Akhmerova (hockey player)
• Leyla Badirbeyli (Azerbaijani actress)
• Leyla Erbil (Turkish writer)
• Leyla Forouhar (Iranian singer)
• Leyla Gediz (Finnish artist)
• Leyla Gencer (Turkish opera singer)
• Leyla Güngör (football player)
• Leyla Hazal Kaya (Turkish actress)
• Leyla McCalla (American musician)
• Leyla Milani (Canadian actress)
• Leyla Onur (politician)
• Leyla Sayar (Turkish actress)
• Leyla Tanlar (Turkish actress)
• Leyla Tasdelen (poet)
• Leyla Zana (Kurdish politician and human rights activist)