Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Lila
GirlSanskrit, Arabic· “play (Sanskrit); night (Arabic)”
- Meaning
- play (Sanskrit); night (Arabic)
- Origin
- Sanskrit, Arabic
- Pronunciation
- LY-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #187
- US babies 2025
- 1,670
- Best rank
- #155 (2010)
- Peak year
- 2010
Meaning and origin of Lila
Lila is a Sanskrit and Arabic name that is usually said to mean “play (Sanskrit); night (Arabic)”.
Lila has several independent sources. In Sanskrit, lila means play or divine play, a concept in Hindu thought describing the universe as the joyful activity of the divine. In Arabic, Layla and Lila mean night. In English, Lila can also be a short form of names like Delilah or a variant of Lilah. The name has become a favorite for its soft, light sound. It is usually said LY-luh in the United States, though LEE-luh is also heard. Lila pairs well with longer middle names.
Popularity over time
Lila has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 123 different years. Its best national rank was #155 in 2010, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,969 babies. In 2025, 1,670 babies were named Lila, and it ranked #187 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #227 in 1920, #432 in 1950, #988 in 1980, #751 in 2000, #155 in 2010, and #187 in 2025. Of the 76,493 US girls named Lila since records began, 22% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 10,304 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Alaina, Aniyah, Maci, Makenzie, and Malia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lila ranked highest in District of Columbia, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #61 | 11 |
| Rhode Island | #82 | 10 |
| Vermont | #86 | 5 |
| Montana | #95 | 10 |
| Iowa | #108 | 29 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Lila is usually pronounced LY-luh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with L and ends in “-la”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Leila, Lela, and Leala.
Middle names for Lila
A few middle names that flow with Lila: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lila
Similar names
Laila Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#413
Nyla Girl
NY-luh
“uncertain; possibly one who succeeds” · American (modern coinage)
#236
Nala Girl
NAH-luh
“uncertain; also a hero of Indian epic” · Sanskrit
#856
Layla Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#36
Lyla Girl
LY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#80
Ila Girl
EE-luh
“earth” · Sanskrit
#718
Leela Girl
LEE-luh
“play, divine play” · Sanskrit
#1,282
Nahla Girl
NAH-luh
“a drink of water” · Arabic
#2,850
Naila Girl
NY-luh
“one who attains” · Arabic
#1,728
Nila Girl
NEE-luh
“dark blue” · Sanskrit
#1,754
Shaila Girl
SHY-luh
“of the mountain, rock” · Sanskrit
#5,211
Neela Girl
NEE-luh
“dark blue” · Sanskrit
#3,332
Lists that include Lila
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lila mean?
Lila is a Sanskrit and Arabic name that is usually said to mean “play (Sanskrit); night (Arabic)”.
What is the origin of the name Lila?
Lila has Sanskrit and Arabic roots. Lila has several independent sources.
Is Lila a popular name?
Yes. Lila ranked #187 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Lila a boy or girl name?
Lila is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Lila?
Lila is usually pronounced LY-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