Layla- What do you think?

I prefer it spelled Leila, but think it's a lovely name either way, and actually more of a grown up than a baby name. I have no problem with using names from other cultures. Love Xander as well!

Cote, I actually don't think that many people pay attention to name meanings, if the name has a nice meaning, it's more of a happy coincidence really, not the detrmining factor. My daughter's name is Biblical and means 'house of figs'....silly meaning, but we really loved the name.

I like the name Layla, it's pretty. Not too sure about it with Oliver though, too many Ls for me. Lauren? Lisa?

Layla is lovely.

BTW My DD1 is Sarah Layla, which we chose because we needed a name that fit in arabic, english & french.

I agree - loads of names that have been adopted into our culture have their origins elsewhere - I'm a Rachel but not Jewish for a start!

CoteDAzur - my eldest has a name that means 'dark eyes', but alas, his eyes are blue!
My youngest has a name that means 'Deer' or 'forest', but we live in the urban sprawl.

Should I rename them?

There are so many names which have been adopted into Anglo culture now which have origins from all round the world.

It is ludicrous to suggest that we all just stick to one teeny, tiny pool of names and never deviate.

In any case, there was an Irish Saint Leila who I suspect would have been very far from dark-skinned, so is the OP allowed to use it now?

I have to say that 'Ollie and Layla' is really hard to say/write - and in my opinion don't go together at all.

Sorry - didn't notice the shouty capitals before posting.

Perfer Xander to Alexander,

Like Layla but the first thing I Hear is the song, REMINDS ME OF THE FILM 'goodfellas' as well! Pretty name though.

I really don't understand CoteDAzur's point at all. Aren't most British/English names derivative of some culture other than English. What about Joshua, Jacob, Rachel, Sarah, etc etc. Would you call your child those if they weren't Jewish?

I think Layla is lovely. I went to school with one who was blond and pale-skinned and we never once thought "hang on a second, you aren't Arabic or dark of complexion." We just took the name as it is - a pretty name.

We did. Having said that, our background is so diverse (DC have 3 nationalities) that we had a huge pool of names to choose from.

CoteDAzur - you obviously have very strong opinions on this subject - what about the names you selected for your child(ren). I am guessing you went for names from within your culture/ethnic origin?

It's nice and I also think it's grown up - don't see why it would be a childish name

I say go for it.

Not so keen on Xander but I like the full Alexander.

wit make me think of the song - cue cracking guitar riff

I really like it.

Actually I see it as a 'grown-up-woman' name - to the point that when I met a little Layla I was initially a bit taken aback.

Also think it goes well with Ollie.

Go for it.

KAEKAE - I'm very calm, actually. Just telling it like I see it.

"the culture and history thing is crap IMO"

You are entitled to your own opinion but that does not mean you are correct.

I know quite a few Lailas/Laylas/Leilas/Leylas. One of them is little Chinese girl Parents obviously thought "I think the name is pretty so I take it for my girl", like you do.

Their other daughter is also obviously Chinese and is called "Aimee" (French name) and they pronounce it "Amy" which is not how that name is pronounced at all. Now they live in a French-speaking country.

"I like it, I get it, I give it to my baby" is all great, and yes you have that right, but... why? Why would you want to, when you have loads of names to choose from within your own heritage. Names that mean something in your culture and to your people.

I'm afraid I'm with CoteDAzur on this. Some names sound so incongruous on people of a totally different culture.

I think Layla sounds very pretty, but I don't like it for the meanings. Dark, night etc. sound so gloomy. My girls have arabic names meaning intelligent, and brilliance/splendour.

friends

I like layla, and have always thought of it as a grown womans name until very recently when I've met 2 pre-schoolers called it.

My mum has 2 lovely freinds called Laila.

Do it

Love it. Layla is my DDs name

Totally disagree CoteDAzur - why can't you choose a name that is simply 'pretty' and that you like? I know plenty of people who have chosen names for this reason.

CoteDAzur - the culture and history thing is crap IMO. I choose a name because I like it. End of. My DD has a name I consider to be pretty and that's why I chose it. I think you need to calm yourself down a bit.

I only know one 10 year old called Layla, it suits her. I like the name, I don't hear it often which I like.

ps, definitely not as a sister to an Ollie. That means that they have one consonant between the two of them. Mean. Throw an other one in to the ring!

Sasha?

Xander for a boy is trop poncey pour moi, but it's nice.