Laila
Girl name · #413 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Laila? In official American birth records, Laila has been tracked continuously since 1884, giving it 141 years of documented American history.
Laila ranks #413 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 755 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #170, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,384 girls born in 2025 was named Laila.
Babies named Laila per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 141-year story
Laila first appears in the Social Security records in 1884, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 2,414 girls were named Laila — good for #140 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Laila against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Laila in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Laila is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Laila is most common
Geography matters for names, and Laila is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Laila is most common in MD (1.2 per 1,000), LA (1 per 1,000), KS (0.9 per 1,000), VA (0.9 per 1,000), NJ (0.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Laila is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Laila
Statistically, parents drawn to Laila tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Leila, Lila, Jayla, Alivia, and Leyla.
LeilaLilaJaylaAliviaLeylaKamilaIzabellaMalia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Laila | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 755 | #413 |
| 2024 | 844 | #371 |
| 2023 | 989 | #312 |
| 2022 | 1,031 | #309 |
| 2021 | 1,253 | #243 |
| 2020 | 1,303 | #227 |
| 2019 | 1,461 | #210 |
| 2018 | 1,620 | #182 |
| 2017 | 1,751 | #173 |
| 2016 | 1,951 | #164 |
| 2015 | 1,889 | #170 |
| 2014 | 2,147 | #149 |
| 2013 | 2,143 | #144 |
| 2012 | 2,250 | #143 |
| 2011 | 2,198 | #141 |
| 2010 | 2,249 | #140 |
| 2009 | 2,379 | #135 |
| 2008 | 2,414 | #140 |
| 2007 | 2,365 | #148 |
| 2006 | 1,445 | #236 |
| 2005 | 1,453 | #234 |
| 2004 | 1,282 | #250 |
| 2003 | 1,306 | #249 |
| 2002 | 801 | #369 |
| 2001 | 612 | #453 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Laila?
In official American birth records, the name Laila first appeared in 1884 (over 141 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Laila a popular girl name?
Laila ranked #413 among girls in 2025 with 755 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #170.
When was the name Laila most popular?
Laila peaked in 2008, when 2,414 American girls received the name (ranked #140 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Laila?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,384 newborn American girls was named Laila. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.