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Baby names

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Original poster

Which is the best spelling of.....

39 replies

Spice17 · 22/08/2012 21:00

Layla?

The first one or Leila or Laila? My surname is 5 letters with an i in the middle, so I was thinking Leila/Laila was a no but DH thinks Laila is nice 'and exotic' I prefer Layla.

Any thoughts?

TIA :)

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birdofthenorth · 26/08/2012 07:40

Layla.

NurseBernard · 26/08/2012 04:52

Leila.

manicinsomniac · 25/08/2012 21:59

The top 300 names has 4 spellings - as well as the three you've mentioned there's 'Leyla' (just to be helpful Grin)

I like Layla and Laila the best.

Blondie2009a · 25/08/2012 20:52

I think Leila is a very pretty name.
.......But having just read the "50 shades of grey" trilogy I'm not so sure now. (the character is an ex-lover/psycho with a gun who nearly ruins everything for our heroes!)

TooImmatureTurtleDoves · 24/08/2012 14:35

Leila. It's my sister's name - other spellings look weird!

veiledsentiments · 23/08/2012 11:39

Can also mean dark in Arabic.

airedailleurs · 23/08/2012 11:39

I think Leila / Layla is Arabic for "night"...as in "Alf Leila Wa Leila" = 1001 nights...a very pretty name!

herhonesty · 23/08/2012 11:34

some people do pronounce leila liela. its very common in the arabic world and in india.

almapudden · 23/08/2012 11:33

Leila.

veiledsentiments · 23/08/2012 11:27

Well as it's an Arabic name, the spelling tends to be phonetic. I teach Arabs. Have seen it spelt lots of different ways, but that can also depend on how good the parents spelling is in English when they register them for college.

overmydeadbody · 23/08/2012 11:26

The best spelling imo is Layla. All the others can cause mispronounciations when people try to read it (like in waiting rooms and such, I've heard all sorts, hate it when people think Leila is pronounced Lie-la.

It's a great name though, don't worry about its arabic origins. Not all arabic people are dark either, Syrians, Jordanians, Lebanese etc etc can all be quite fair skinned with light hair and their arabic names still suit them just fine.

OneOfMyTurnsComingOn · 23/08/2012 11:20

It's Layla.

veiledsentiments · 23/08/2012 11:18

That's my eldest daughter's name. Husband is half Iraqi. we spell it LAILA. but pronounce it layla.
I think all the other spellings are horrible!

Original poster
Spice17 · 23/08/2012 11:12

Thanks again all, it's my no 1 choice at the moment, can't think of anything else that feels as right IYSWIM?

I can also imagine Layla's/Leila's/Laila's are little madams. But cute though! :)

OP posts:
stickyLFDTfingers · 23/08/2012 11:03

I've only known one (white middle class) Leila, so wouldn't worry too much about its origins. I think it's a lovely name too. Would go for Leila myself, but wouldn't think anything adverse about other spellings... and it is a great song!

ALittleBitOfMagic · 23/08/2012 11:00

spice my name means grace of god I am neither godly nor graceful GrinGrin

I think Layla is beautiful and I don't think you should worry at all about the meaning or origin . Smile

HistoryNerd · 23/08/2012 10:07

Layla is the Eric Clapton version of the name.

Original poster
Spice17 · 23/08/2012 09:13

Thanks all, I like Layla but not because of the Eric Clapton song (though is a classic!)

Am also worried that it's an Arabic name and we're pasty white, british people, so in that case is it an odd choice??

Obviously suits Laila Rouass (literal meaning is 'dark beauty') but becuase of above am slightly wavering. She will probably be born with very dark hair though as I was, so makes me feel a bit better. If she has no hair or is blonde I won't know what to do!

OP posts:
InkyBinky · 23/08/2012 01:08

Layla, because it is then obvious how to pronounce it. Leila isn't as obvious.
(but doesn't matter really, Smile )

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 23/08/2012 01:08

Leila- leigh la
Laila - lie la
Layla - lay la.
It depends how you want to say it.

Thumbwitch · 23/08/2012 01:00

I had a friend called Leila and it was pronounced Lee-la so no, I wouldn't use that.

Layla if you want people to know how to pronounce it. It's been around long enough that people will know it.

SirBoobAlot · 23/08/2012 00:54

I knew a Layla, was the only spelling on the name I knew until MN!

She got called La La a lot...

GnocchiNineDoors · 23/08/2012 00:41

Leila

babyblabber · 23/08/2012 00:39

Layla

TerracottaPie · 22/08/2012 22:26

I wouldn't think spelling it Layla would look like someone wasn't sure how to spell it.

I'd just think they liked Eric Clapton.