Lela
Girl name · 5 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Lela: 5 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2010.
Lela is a name with several possible origins, but for English and Scottish speakers it is most often considered a variant of Leila, which traces back to the Arabic *layla* meaning “night.” It also appears as a short form of names like Ethel or Cordelia. Among its notable bearers is the glamorous Hollywood actress Lela Bliss, a silent-film star of the 1920s, though the most famous Lela in modern history is arguably Lela Loren, the American actress known for the crime drama *Power*. The name shares its root with the Scottish place-name Lealaidh, a small settlement in the Highlands, though the connection is indirect. An interesting note: in Geordie dialect, “lela” is an old word for a lullaby, giving the name a soft, musical quality.
Girl 1 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20105 babies
- Latest (2010)
- #5715 babies
- Total births
- 5since 2010
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y