← All names

Leyla

Girl name · 138 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Leyla: 138 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 13 births in 2012.

Leyla is an enchanting name with Persian and Arabic roots, ultimately derived from Layla, meaning “night” or “dark beauty.” It became familiar in the West through the tragic love story of Layla and Majnun, later popularised by Eric Clapton’s classic song. Notable bearers include Turkish operatic soprano Leyla Gencer and Somali-British activist Leyla Hussein, who campaigns against female genital mutilation. While no major places are directly named after a Leyla, the variant Laila has been used in Scotland for decades, with Leyla itself rising in popularity since the 1990s. This spelling offers a softer, more modern alternative to Layla, yet retains the same lyrical romance and cross-cultural appeal.