Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Lyla
GirlArabic, American (modern coinage)· “night”
- Meaning
- night
- Origin
- Arabic, American (modern coinage)
- Pronunciation
- LY-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #80
- US babies 2025
- 3,089
- Best rank
- #80 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Lyla
Lyla is an Arabic and American (modern coinage) name that is usually said to mean “night”.
Lyla is usually treated as a variant of Layla, the Arabic name meaning "night," though it also overlaps with Lila and Lilah, which have other sources. Layla is famous from the Arabic and Persian love story of Layla and Majnun, which inspired Eric Clapton's song "Layla." The spelling Lyla, with its long "eye" sound, became widely known in the English-speaking world in the twenty-first century. It is soft and lyrical, easy to say and to spell. Lyla works as both a first and middle name and pairs nicely with longer, more traditional names.
Famous parents who chose Lyla: Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger (2020). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Lyla first appears in US Social Security records in 1884. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 62 different years, starting in 1884. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #80, and its highest count, 3,089 babies. Use has grown 36% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #877 in 1920, #1,297 in 1950, #4,235 in 1980, #1,786 in 2000, #135 in 2010, and #80 in 2025. Of the 49,294 US girls named Lyla since records began, 46% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 16,195 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Melody, Liliana, Maeve, Josie, and Lucia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lyla ranked highest in Utah, North Dakota, and Nebraska.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #44 | 72 |
| North Dakota | #47 | 16 |
| Nebraska | #49 | 31 |
| Missouri | #56 | 79 |
| Minnesota | #56 | 74 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Lyla is usually pronounced LY-luh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with L and ends in “-la”.
Middle names for Lyla
A few middle names that flow with Lyla: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lyla
Similar names
Nyla Girl
NY-luh
“uncertain; possibly one who succeeds” · American (modern coinage)
#236
Layla Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#36
Laila Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#413
Jayla Girl
JAY-luh
“blend of Jay and -la” · American (modern coinage)
#530
Lila Girl
LY-luh
“play (Sanskrit); night (Arabic)” · Sanskrit
#187
Leila Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#259
Myla Girl
MY-luh
“variant of Mila or Miles” · American (modern coinage)
#210
Kyla Girl
KY-luh
“narrow strait; feminine of Kyle” · Scottish
#580
Briella Girl
bree-EH-luh
“short form of Gabriella” · American (modern coinage)
#362
Iyla Girl
EYE-luh
“modern name; uncertain origin” · American (modern coinage)
#525
Shyla Girl
SHY-luh
“uncertain; modern name” · American (modern coinage)
#2,322
Zayla Girl
ZAY-luh
“modern name; uncertain origin” · American (modern coinage)
#1,012
Lists that include Lyla
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lyla mean?
Lyla is an Arabic and American (modern coinage) name that is usually said to mean “night”.
What is the origin of the name Lyla?
Lyla has Arabic and modern American roots. Lyla is usually treated as a variant of Layla, the Arabic name meaning "night," though it also overlaps with Lila and Lilah, which have other sources.
Is Lyla a popular name?
Yes. Lyla ranked #80 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Lyla a boy or girl name?
Lyla is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Lyla?
Lyla 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