Meaning & History
Etymology and Meaning
Leila is a variant of Layla, the usual Persian transcription of a name that means "night" (from Arabic layl). In Arabic and Persian cultures, it is often given to girls born during the night, symbolizing "daughter of the night". The name appears in stories across the Arab, Turkish, Kurdish, and Persian cultural circles, all tracing back to the Arabic root word for night.
Literary and Historical Introduction to the West
In Western Europe, the spelling Leila first gained prominence through Lord Byron's works. He used the name for characters in his poems The Giaour (1813) and Don Juan (1819), drawing on Romantic‑era Orientalist fascination with Persian and Arabic tales. Byron likely encountered the spelling while exploring Persian literature and adapted it for his English‑language audience.
The Legend of Layla and Majnun
The root name Layla descends from one of the most famous love stories in Arabic and Persian literature: the tale of Qays ibn al‑Mulawwah and Layla bint al‑Amiriah. According to tradition, the 7th‑century Arab poet Qays became so passionately devoted to his cousin Layla that he was called “Majnun Layla” ("madly in love with Layla"). The story was notably versified by the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi in the 12th‑century romance Layla and Majnun, which spread throughout the Islamic world and later influenced Western writers, including Byron.
Global Spread and Popularization by Music
In English‑speaking countries, the name Layla (and its variant Leila) enjoyed a surge in popularity after the 1970 release of the song “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos, its title and story directly inspired by the medieval romance. In the 21st century, Leila remains a common feminine name in many countries, with spelling variations such as Layla, Leyla (especially in Turkic regions), and Lejla (in Bosnian).
- Meaning: “night” (Arabic), “daughter of the night”
- Origin: Arabic, via Persian and Turkish cultures
- Usage: Arabic, Georgian, Kurdish, Persian, English, French, and across the Middle East and Anglosphere
- Variants: Layla (English), Leyla (Turkmen), Lejla (Bosnian), Leyli (Persian), Leili (Persian), Laïla (Maghrebi Arabic)
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Leila (name)