Layla Name
Name Overview
Meaning, origin, and cultural context at a glance. Last updated: 2026-06-29.
Arabic
Female
Common
Neutral
Meaning
Night with mysterious dark beauty
Description
Layla comes from the Arabic word for night.
The name carries strong literary associations through the famous seventh-century love story of Layla and Majnun.
It is used throughout the Arab world Iran Turkey South Asia and beyond.
History
The name Layla has ancient roots in Semitic languages with cognates meaning night or dark.
In Arabic poetry of the Jahiliyya period layl was a common theme and the name existed before Islam.
The story of Layla and Majnun based on the real poet Qays ibn al-Mulawwah who lived in Arabia in the seventh century elevated the name to iconic status.
Nizami Ganjavis twelfth-century Persian version became one of the most influential literary works in Islamic civilization.
The name spread across cultures through this literary tradition and appears in Turkish Persian Urdu and Kurdish naming customs.
In the medieval period the tale inspired numerous adaptations across the Islamic world from Central Asia to Andalusia.
In modern times the name gained international recognition through Eric Claptons song Layla and has been popularized in Western naming practices.
It remains one of the most popular female names across Arabic-speaking countries and maintains strong usage in Iran and Turkey.
Variants
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