Leila (
Arabic: ليلى,
Persian: ليلى,
Hebrew: לילה, Sanskrit लीला ) is a feminine
given name primarily found in the
Middle East, particularly in
Semitic speaking countries and
Iran. In the Latin alphabet, the name is commonly spelled in multiple ways, including Leila, Layla, Laylah, Laila, Leyla and Leylah.
The Indian version is "Leela" or "Lila." Some people of Indian origin use the spelling "Leila." The name in Sanskrit loosely translates to "divine play."
(lēləyā) in
Aramaic, לילה (layla) in
Hebrew, لَيْل (layl) or لَيْلَة (layla) in
Arabic, and ܠܹܠܝܵܐ (lēlyā) in
Syriac.
In Hebrew and Arabic, the word Leila or Laila means "night", "dark"[1] and the name is often given to girls born during the night, signifying "daughter of the night".[2]
The story of Qays and Layla or Layla and Majnun is based on the romantic poems of Qais Ibn Al-Mulawwah (Arabic: قيس بن الملوح) in 7th century
Arabia, who was nicknamed Majnoon Layla (مجنون ليلى), Arabic for "madly in love with Layla", referring to his cousin Layla Al-Amiriah (ليلى العامرية).[3] His poems are considered the paragon of unrequited chaste love. They later became a popular romance in medieval
Iran,[4] and use of the name spread accordingly. The name gained popularity further afield in the
Persianate world, amongst
Turkic peoples and in the
Balkans and
India.
In the
Nordic countries, Laila or Lajla is derived from the
Sami name Láilá, the Sami variant of Helga which means "holy".[5]
^"Layla". Behind the Name. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
^"Láilá". Behind the Name. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
Name list
This page or section lists people that share the same
given name. If an
internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article.
Leila (
Arabic: ليلى,
Persian: ليلى,
Hebrew: לילה, Sanskrit लीला ) is a feminine
given name primarily found in the
Middle East, particularly in
Semitic speaking countries and
Iran. In the Latin alphabet, the name is commonly spelled in multiple ways, including Leila, Layla, Laylah, Laila, Leyla and Leylah.
The Indian version is "Leela" or "Lila." Some people of Indian origin use the spelling "Leila." The name in Sanskrit loosely translates to "divine play."
(lēləyā) in
Aramaic, לילה (layla) in
Hebrew, لَيْل (layl) or لَيْلَة (layla) in
Arabic, and ܠܹܠܝܵܐ (lēlyā) in
Syriac.
In Hebrew and Arabic, the word Leila or Laila means "night", "dark"[1] and the name is often given to girls born during the night, signifying "daughter of the night".[2]
The story of Qays and Layla or Layla and Majnun is based on the romantic poems of Qais Ibn Al-Mulawwah (Arabic: قيس بن الملوح) in 7th century
Arabia, who was nicknamed Majnoon Layla (مجنون ليلى), Arabic for "madly in love with Layla", referring to his cousin Layla Al-Amiriah (ليلى العامرية).[3] His poems are considered the paragon of unrequited chaste love. They later became a popular romance in medieval
Iran,[4] and use of the name spread accordingly. The name gained popularity further afield in the
Persianate world, amongst
Turkic peoples and in the
Balkans and
India.
In the
Nordic countries, Laila or Lajla is derived from the
Sami name Láilá, the Sami variant of Helga which means "holy".[5]
^"Layla". Behind the Name. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
^"Láilá". Behind the Name. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
Name list
This page or section lists people that share the same
given name. If an
internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article.