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Leela

Girl name · 28 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Leela: 28 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 7 births in 2014.

Derived from the Sanskrit word *līlā* meaning "play" or "divine play," Leela has roots in Hindu philosophy, where it describes the creative, joyful activity of the universe. In the West, it gained familiarity through the sharp-witted, one-eyed spaceship captain Turanga Leela from the animated series *Futurama*. The name also belongs to Leela Chitnis, a pioneering actress of Indian cinema. While no major places share the name directly, the spelling variant Lila is common, and the luxurious Leela Palace hotels in India echo the same Sanskrit origin. In Scotland, Leela has appeared as a modern, cross-cultural choice, linking parents to a name that feels both playful and profound.

Girl 5 of 52 years

Peak year
20147 babies
Latest (2018)
#5026 babies
Total births
28since 2014
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2014 · 7
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).