Lila Name Meaning

Lila has multiple meanings depending on the culture and language. But one common thread among them all is the idea of playfulness and joy. Lila is a name that evokes feelings of lightheartedness and fun. It’s a name that brings to mind a person who is carefree and full of life.

History of the Name Lila

The name Lila has roots in various cultures and languages. In Sanskrit, Lila means “divine play” or “cosmic game.” In Arabic, it means “night.” In Persian, it means “born at night.” And in Hinduism, Lila is the term used to describe the playful and loving nature of the god Krishna.

Origins of the Name Lila

The name Lila has been used for centuries in different cultures and languages. However, it’s most commonly associated with Arabic and Persian cultures. The name has been popular in Arabic-speaking countries for generations, and it’s still a popular name today.

Popularity of the Name Lila

Lila has been a popular name for girls for generations. The name has consistently been in the top 1,000 names for baby girls in the United States for the last century. It’s also popular in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The name Lila has been in the top 100 names for girls in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

Many famous women have borne the name Lila, such as Lila Mae Watson, an American civil rights activist and educator, Lila Lee, an American silent film actress, and Lila Downs, a Mexican-American singer-songwriter.

Final Thoughts on the Name Lila

In conclusion, the name Lila has a rich history and meaning. It’s a name that has been popular for generations and continues to be a popular choice for parents. Lila evokes feelings of playfulness and joy and is the perfect name for a girl who is full of life and ready for adventure.

Infographic of Lila name meaning, which is Lila is a variant of Leila, meaning night or darkness.
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Lila Name Popularity

How popular is the name Lila? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 208 270 0.0767%
1911 224 271 0.0728%
1912 228 354 0.0702%
1913 235 384 0.0677%
1914 221 532 0.0763%
1915 225 658 0.0724%
1916 228 684 0.0708%
1917 240 654 0.0654%
1918 229 724 0.0675%
1919 226 726 0.0693%
1920 223 827 0.0744%
1921 213 867 0.0757%
1922 209 895 0.0803%
1923 194 1,048 0.0936%
1924 199 1,031 0.0888%
1925 174 1,229 0.1087%
1926 189 1,071 0.0974%
1927 191 1,037 0.0937%
1928 194 1,016 0.095%
1929 180 1,091 0.1053%
1930 169 1,184 0.1133%
1931 183 961 0.0974%
1932 190 932 0.0943%
1933 200 836 0.0897%
1934 206 823 0.0851%
1935 220 746 0.0768%
1936 242 624 0.0648%
1937 257 562 0.057%
1938 268 515 0.0503%
1939 282 452 0.0444%
1940 269 500 0.047%
1941 279 495 0.044%
1942 309 449 0.0356%
1943 311 455 0.0349%
1944 335 379 0.0306%
1945 355 337 0.0276%
1946 385 351 0.0238%
1947 400 363 0.0217%
1948 382 395 0.0247%
1949 394 361 0.0224%
1950 438 290 0.018%
1951 440 314 0.0185%
1952 412 375 0.0215%
1953 461 299 0.0169%
1954 457 323 0.0177%
1955 490 302 0.0164%
1956 438 394 0.0209%
1957 495 325 0.0169%
1958 591 234 0.0124%
1959 577 247 0.013%
1960 569 255 0.0135%
1961 662 194 0.0103%
1962 810 118 0.0064%
1963 672 175 0.0097%
1964 704 167 0.0095%
1965 786 113 0.0069%
1966 889 78 0.005%
1967 1,053 51 0.0034%
1968 1,147 45 0.003%
1969 955 77 0.005%
1970 1,105 59 0.0037%
1971 1,116 57 0.0038%
1972 1,038 64 0.0047%
1973 942 78 0.006%
1974 938 82 0.0063%
1975 1,204 49 0.0038%
1976 1,149 55 0.0043%
1977 1,226 53 0.0039%
1978 1,171 61 0.0045%
1979 1,057 81 0.0057%
1980 1,028 89 0.0061%
1981 996 94 0.0064%
1982 1,129 72 0.0048%
1983 1,281 50 0.0034%
1984 1,455 37 0.0025%
1985 1,139 75 0.0049%
1986 1,255 57 0.0038%
1987 1,269 59 0.0039%
1988 1,376 52 0.0033%
1989 1,280 72 0.0045%
1990 1,383 67 0.004%
1991 1,304 78 0.0048%
1992 1,629 47 0.0029%
1993 1,582 50 0.0032%
1994 1,343 74 0.0048%
1995 1,385 67 0.0044%
1996 1,285 82 0.0055%
1997 1,117 115 0.0078%
1998 941 167 0.0112%
1999 727 262 0.0175%
2000 740 262 0.0172%
2001 661 337 0.0224%
2002 629 361 0.0241%
2003 572 444 0.0292%
2004 483 562 0.0369%
2005 443 645 0.0422%
2006 324 984 0.0628%
2007 256 1,340 0.0849%
2008 180 1,843 0.1192%
2009 167 1,926 0.1289%
2010 155 1,961 0.1361%
2011 163 1,904 0.1336%
2012 182 1,700 0.1193%
2013 187 1,688 0.1186%
2014 181 1,757 0.1206%
2015 193 1,649 0.1133%
2016 204 1,543 0.107%
2017 205 1,439 0.1031%
2018 215 1,385 0.1008%
2019 220 1,332 0.0984%
2020 229 1,244 0.0977%
2021 223 1,215 0.0994%
2022 219 1,329 0.1007%

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Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Lila

If you like Lila, you’ll love these other names like Lila.


What names are variants of Lila?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Lila.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Layla

Night

Arabic

Leila

Night

Arabic

Lilah

Night

Arabic

Lyla

Night

English

Lylah

Night

Arabic


What names sound like Lila?

If you like how Lila sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Lila.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Laila

Night

Arabic

Lala

Tulip

Slavic

Lela

Black beauty

African

Lil

A short form of Lilian.

Latin

Lili

Lily

Latin

Lilia

Lily

Latin

Lilla

Latin

Lola

The sorrows

Spanish

Lula

Famous warrior

German


What names are similar to Lila?

Find a name that’s like Lila, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Dalila

Delicate, gentle

African

Lillian

Lily flower

English

Lily

Lily flower

English


Lists With Lila

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Lila.


Siblings of Lila

Mamas with kids named Lila also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Joshua

God is salvation

Hebrew

Julianne

Youthful; Jove's child

Latin

Genesis

The beginning

Greek

6 Comments

  1. Lila Rose is our daughter’s name. My Grandmother passed away months before the baby was born; my greatest memories of her were of her in her garden: she grew Lilacs, Roses and Violets (my other daughter’s middle name is Violet)

  2. Lila is her paternal great-grandmother’s name of Bengali origin

  3. I have always loved the name Lila. My mom had a baby named Lila, she passed away young. Her name is also similar to my mother in laws name, Delia. Lila’s middle names is my mom’s middle name.

  4. Lila is a Hebrew name meaning night.

  5. I was named after both of my grandmothers. My husband and I wanted to carry on that tradition, so we took my grandmother’s name and my husband’s grandmother’s name for her middle name – Lila Ruth.

    Lila is unique and more ‘vintage’ name. I love the Book of Ruth and wanted a strong name like that for my baby girl.

  6. My favorite flower is lilac.
    It’s unique, short and sweet.


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