Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Laylah
GirlArabic· “night”
- Meaning
- night
- Origin
- Arabic
- Pronunciation
- LAY-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,254
- US babies 2025
- 179
- Best rank
- #595 (2014)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Laylah
Laylah is an Arabic name that means “night”.
Laylah is a spelling of Layla, from the Arabic layla, meaning "night." The name is famous through the tale of Layla and Majnun, a story of passionate and doomed love that was retold in Persian by the poet Nizami and became one of the great romances of the Islamic world. In the West it gained popularity after Eric Clapton's song "Layla," inspired by the same story. The added h reflects a common way of writing Arabic names in English. Laylah has a soft, flowing sound and a romantic, evocative meaning.
Popularity over time
Laylah first appears in US Social Security records in 1975. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 16 different years, starting in 2008. Its best national rank was #595 in 2014, the same year it reached its highest count of 496 babies. In 2025, 179 babies were named Laylah, and it ranked #1,254 nationally. That is 56% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #4,128 in 2000, #742 in 2010, and #1,254 in 2025. Of the 7,297 US girls named Laylah since records began, 56% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 1,631 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Monserrat, Alena, Aranza, Amelie, and Coraline.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Laylah ranked highest in Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #722 | 7 |
| Tennessee | #790 | 9 |
| Illinois | #892 | 10 |
| Michigan | #913 | 8 |
| Arizona | #980 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Laylah is usually pronounced LAY-luh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with L and ends in “-ah”.
Middle names for Laylah
A few middle names that flow with Laylah: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Laylah
Similar names
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Lists that include Laylah
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Laylah mean?
Laylah is an Arabic name that means “night”.
What is the origin of the name Laylah?
Laylah has Arabic roots. Laylah is a spelling of Layla, from the Arabic layla, meaning "night." The name is famous through the tale of Layla and Majnun, a story of passionate and doomed love that was retold in Persian by the poet Nizami and became one of the great romances of the Islamic world.
Is Laylah a popular name?
Not especially. Laylah ranked #1,254 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Laylah a boy or girl name?
Laylah is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Laylah?
Laylah is usually pronounced LAY-luh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings