What's the consensus on Layla?

[mumtojust3whippetsuntilnow]

I really like Layla if it's to be a girl... good, bad or indifferent?

[millenniumfalcon]

i predict consensus = bad

[MaggieVirgo]

I prefer Leila

APart from that, I think that we have reached supersaturation for names like Leila, Layla, Lila, Lyla, Lily, Lilia

[MaggieVirgo]

and Lola, I forgot Lola.

[reikizen]

It makes me want to sing the rest of the song.

[boodleboot]

i really dislike this name....every layla i have met has been very 'chavvy'....this has coloured the name for me....

[BerylCole]

Leila is nice. Layla - nah.

[Ondine]

I agree Leila is nice. Layla is not.

[Firawla]

I like it, i think the spelling Layla is much better

[choosyfloosy]

There's a Leila in ds's class which I do prefer as a spelling. I have to say my only reaction to your spelling is to howl like Eric Clapton. However, only older people will have this reaction presumably.

[KnickersandVests]

It's a bit dull.

Nothing wrong with it other than there are plenty of them around already and she'll also never have anyone say to her "what a lovely name you have" but she may often get the Clapton song sung to her.

[GoldenSnitch]

My sister is called Leilah.

She hates the Eric Clapton song.

But she is lovely and so I love the name

[LaurieFairyCake]

Neighboursn dog called Layla so I wouldn't

but you could

[mumtojust3whippetsuntilnow]

ha yes LaurieFairyCake I think I would be put off if I knew a dog with the name!

I don't think there's many round here, I certainly don't know of any (but then I don't know that many children so I'll ask my friend who's a teacher just to be sure). Just checked the stats and it's not even in the top 80 names for the last recorded year (2007).

I do prefer the Layla spelling - the Leila spelling seems more Arabic, and we have no Arabic connections, so I'd prefer to use the (what I feel is a) more Western version.

I also like that the name has a song - it's not a bad song, and I always liked having my name in a song when I was younger!

[mumtojust3whippetsuntilnow]

Oops, no it's no. 67 in 2008.

[MamaLazarou]

It's all right, nothing to write home about. I prefer the spelling 'Leila'.

[ilovesprouts]

my pals dd is going to call her baby layla-jo i like it

[MrsWuh]

I know a Laila - she's a really sweet, polite little girl and not chavvy at all. I quite like it.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

I was going to have Laila if DS had been a girl. Still might in the future although it is very common. I love it. (DH is arab tho)

[Boodlerpoop]

Layla was my girls name too...love it

[MrsJamesMartin]

My v biased opinion is that its the best name for a girl

I only know one more who is in her twenties so its popularity will depend on where you are.

[clairebear88]

love it love it love it but cant have it as rhymes with my surname

[MrsBadger]

Leila much better - it may be 'more arabic' but it's an Arabic-origin name ffs

Using Layla because 'it's more western' is like saying Phoebe is 'too greek' and spelling it Feebee.

or that Louise is too French and it should be Looweeze

[chocolatefudgebrownie]

Leila is a great name. My dd's name, so I'm biased! My dh is Arab, hence the spelling. I used to play the eric Clapton song to her when she was born. She liked it, I think!?
It's not a chavvy name at all.

[mumtojust3whippetsuntilnow]

MrsBadger, please don't 'ffs' at me, I find it quite rude to be honest.

Layla is an accepted spelling, so the comparison with Feebee and Looweeze is not valid I'm afraid.

If a name can be spelt one or more ways, then we make a choice about which one we prefer and use that one. I realise it's Arabic in origin, and that's fine. I agree that Leila is not an unnattractive spelling of the name. However, instinctively I prefer Layla, proably because my Western-programmed brain favours the aesthetic appeal of that version.