Leila (name)


Leila is a feminine given name of Arabic, Nordic and Sanskrit origin. It is popular in the Middle East, including Arabic-speakings countries, Iran, Turkey, Israel, the Nordic countries, India as well as the anglosphere. In the Latin alphabet, the name is commonly spelled in multiple ways, including Leila, Layla, Laylah, Laila, Leyla, and Leylah.
Laila comes from the Arabic word layl, which means "night", or "dark". The name is often given to girls born during the night, signifying "daughter of the night".
The story of Qays and Layla or Layla and Majnun is based on the romantic poems of Qais Ibn Al-Mulawwah in 7th century Arabia, who was nicknamed Majnoon Layla, Arabic for "madly in love with Layla", referring to his cousin Layla Al-Amiriah. His poems are considered the paragon of unrequited chaste love. They later became a popular romance in medieval Iran, and use of the name spread accordingly. The name gained popularity further afield in the Persianate world such as Iran and Pakistan also amongst Turkic peoples and in the Balkans and India.
The Indian name is Leela or Lila And is of Sanskrit origin and related to Hindu religion and philosophy. The name in Sanskrit translates to "play or divine play". It can also mean " act of God". Leela is also associted With Hindu goddess Durga. The concept of 'Leela' is rooted in Hindu philosophy and cosmology. The most famous example is 'Ramleela' related to Lord Ram and 'Rasleela' related to Lord Krishna. Layla or Leila, although similar sounding to Leela, have no connection to the name and its origin. Leela/Lila is of Sanskrit origin Indian name and Leila is of Arabic origin. The Word "Leela" and "Leila" have different origins, meanings and cultural significance, though they are phonetically similar.
In the Nordic countries Laila or Lajla is derived from the Sami name Láilá, the Sami variant of Helga which means "holy".
In China, Laila is pronounced as Lái lā, and Leila is pronounced as léi lā.

People with this name

Laila

Layla

Laylah

Leila

Leilah

Lejla

Lelia

Leyla

Leylah

Film, music and literature

Fictional and mythological characters