Layla- What do you think?

I agree with CoteDAzur

Layla is a lovely name and where I live (Middle East) it translates as 'the night/tonight'. DD's best friend is called Layla (named long before she moved here) and she is not dark haired/dark eyed.

Have to laugh at the meaning of names. I is a lot of nonsense. DS's name translates as 'gift of god' and at the moment I'd say he was more like a gift from the devil

anyway, a very old thread, OP, what did you decide?

At frawla

lailaleilalayla you don't own the name, don't be so rude!!

Leila is NOT a muslim name.

We are arabs (christian) and my daughter is named Leila.

Originally I believe the name was Persian but as with all names has spread throughout the middle east.

Please remember, just because a name originated in what is now seen as a 'muslim' country it is not a muslim name. Most arab names predate islam anyway.

Leila is a (beautiful) name. End of.

My dd is Leyla (theirs a new meathod as to spell it for you all )

And Leilaleilalayla She is Turkish Muslim :)

ohhh change that to stupid Brits! LOL

Stupid americans...stop naming your daughters Layla. It is soooo insulting. Are you middleeaster? Muslim?

Oh it's a trendy name for you? Why aren't you naming your daughter something original.Oh you thing Arabic names are lovely, try some original names: Narima, Farouz, Turfonda, unoriginalamericanparent!

FYI: The name layla(leila, laila) is a common name, just as common as Mary for christians.

Find your own name!

I like Layla but chose Laylee for DD1 as a variation...it translates as "My night"

As a rule, don't believe everything you read in baby name websites. Those at tell you Layla means "night beauty" also say Cari is a Turkish girls' name, which is a laughable lie, one website's mistake perpetuated by their incestuous copying ad infinitum.

Oh yes sorry its not just a name for dark sultry types I agree - besides it is often translated as night beauty - so thats not specific to any colouring.

i know a layla, she too is blonde haired and suits the name (in her 30's now). i think it's very nice btw.

do not think many children will make the layla - eric clapton connection nowadays, although i must admit it does run through my head when i meet my friend

But do you not think that many names that are known as common British or English names have a Greek, Hebrew, Latin origin - Paul, John etc.

I'm with CoteDAzur on this, I want my childs name to reflect their heritage.

PS - I thought it actually meant dark beauty - my DGD is very dark hair/eyes so suits her.

Absolutely love Layla - but very biased - my beautiful spirited 6yr old DGD is called Layla. It is such a lovely lyrical name to say and I have no problem with the Eric Clapton connection - I got her the double CD - original and unplugged versions and it is put away in its cellophane wrap for when she's older.
Was gutted though when a soap character came on the scene called Layla - I thought here we go - on every housing estate in a few years it will be 'Layla - your tea's ready' !
Same thing happened with 'Shannon' many years ago - used to be quite unusual and I was going to call my DD that as her grandparents are from Carrick on Shannon in Eire - then came Shannon on Home and Away ( I think )! so I passed.

I prefer the Leila spelling, I wanted to call both of my DDs Leila (not at the same time, obviously) but DH is guitar nut and couldn't get past the Clapton connection.

She will get sung and air-guitared at all her life though, there were 2 songs with my name in around when I was about 7-8 and it made my life a misery at the time, I still cringe when I (thankfully rarely) hear them now.

I am albanian and I've read the book "a thousand splendid suns" by Khaled Hossein. In this book there is a girl named Laila, and the author who is Arab explains the meaning of Laila as "dark beauty". Me personaly I'm wishing with all my heart that when I'll give birth to my child she'd be a girl so I can name her Laila, couse me and my love have met several times late a night occasionally and at one of those accidentally "dates" we got together, that's why somehow i'm related to the meaning of Laila! I hope my Laila will be as mysterious as the night, that's what will make her beautiful ;)
Go for it! :)

Things I say on these baby name threads, I have never said to anyone on RL. Even to the strangest name /spelling, I have managed to nod politely and smile. However, if any of my friends name their baby girl "Layla-Jo" (not that they would) I wouldn't be able to stop myself.

layla is commonly used now by non muslim and non arabic people, i dont think it would come across weird - that name is integrated into society now. if you picked a rare arabic name then yes, people may find it confusing but not layla
i think its fine with ollie.
layla is a v nice name

my dds friend has a baby girl layla-jo i love it

I like Layla and have a friend who is named Layla but my mother once said that she thought the name was tarty and why, she couldn't put her finger on it, but I still like it. Go for it...cool name!

chaya - If you went to Saudi Arabia and saw a little Arab boy named "Christopher" or even "Jane", you would go . Some Saudis there would doubtless "just take the name as it is, a pretty name".

Same thing here.

Also, it's funny that we seem to get really hung up on the meaning of certain names, but not others.

I've seen a few threads about the name Layla / Laila / Leila where people get a bee in their bonnet about its meaning, but so many other name threads where a name's meaning isn't even given the time of day.

My name is Isobel, which basically means 'devoted / pledged to God' or 'God is my vow'.

Do we really think that all the little Isobels being named now are destined for the convent and a life of nunhood? Hardly.