Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Thoughts on Layla

60 replies

Snoopy90 · 14/07/2019 18:33

Just wondering what people think of Layla?

We're really struggling to name out new baby girl. I was set on either Saskia or Anastasia but can't convience partner. He really wants India which I like but don't love it.

We both like Layla. But I think it's quite popular atm which is putting me off a bit, I really wanted something a bit more unusual. Also, do you think it would suit an adult? Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Tmnmpa1 · 14/07/2019 22:17

This was our top girls name cus of the Eric Clapton song.....DP and I have been saying for 10 years it would be pur daughters name. Now pregnant and have literally heard hundreds of Laylas, from people on the street calling after their child, to a character on Emmerdale. It's incredibly popular.

Also we found out last week we having a boy....and that's a whole different battle with name choice.

EL8888 · 14/07/2019 21:44

Love it!

joystir59 · 14/07/2019 21:44

Love it!

FindaPenny · 14/07/2019 21:39

@frith2013 I did wonder that myself about 'minding' that it's an Arabic name, I'm sure the op hasn't been 'warned' that Anastasia is a Russian name. Hopefully the pp meant to just say, Layla is an Arabic name. Layla means night or one night.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 14/07/2019 21:34

Love it.

Muddlingalongalone · 14/07/2019 21:34

Very popular here - both spellings. But lovely!

laylabella · 14/07/2019 21:30

Are you the same poster who has done seven threads already about baby names lol?

hazandduck · 14/07/2019 21:26

Saskia is my favourite from your list. Not so keen on Layla however it’s spelt but it’s just because I went to college with an annoying one.
Can’t you wear your partner down Wink lol. I do love India as well though. You’ve got good taste between you!

Frith2013 · 14/07/2019 21:11

Why on Earth would anyone discount a name because it’s Arabic?

Mine is Hebrew, my sons’ are Welsh and Persian!

Anyway, Leila is great. It doesn’t look right as Layla.

BoredToday · 14/07/2019 20:10

It's an Arabic name.
It means dark woman.
There is a real life love story, tragedy that ends in death and the heroine is named Layla.
Like Romeo and Juliet, but Layla and Mujnu existed, he was taunted for falling in love with an ugly dark skinned girl, but his stance was it was true love and transcends aesthetics.
So that is the origins of the name Layla / Leila.
As for how it sounds, of you don't mind an Arabic name and you don't mind it being common, it's a very nice name with interesting origins.

teenmum18 · 14/07/2019 20:04

And if I was to choose a middle to go with it I'd go for Layla Noelle.

teenmum18 · 14/07/2019 20:03

I love Layla. And spelt that way too.

Peachbubble · 14/07/2019 20:01

Not too keen. Prefer Lilah, Lyra or Lia.

purplecorkheart · 14/07/2019 19:59

Sorry, I am not a fan of any of them. They remind of a documentary about a strip club in the US I watched.

McShakey · 14/07/2019 19:59

I think Layla is a beautiful name

DottieLottie1 · 14/07/2019 19:57

@Fallofrain said "Leyna" after billy Joel's song, so suggesting an alternative to Layla Wink

MikeUniformMike · 14/07/2019 19:53

Prefer Leila, but it will be sometimes be pronounced Leela.
Layla makes me think of the Eric Clapton song and the school bus alternative version.

clpsmum · 14/07/2019 19:49

I love it, your best suggestion yet Smile

JuniperNarni · 14/07/2019 19:38

Love it. Layla though not Leila, too easily confused with lee-la.

31RueCambon · 14/07/2019 19:31

I like it but prefer spelling Leila

ReganSomerset · 14/07/2019 19:30

Leila. Lay has connotations, so I wouldn't spell it Layla.

georgialondon · 14/07/2019 19:29

It's definitely popular. It's in the top 20 names. I don't like it because there are too many different spellings. It would get annoying getting your name spelt incorrectly all the time.

littlebitstressed · 14/07/2019 19:28

I love Layla but spelt Leila. If your worried about being too common change the spelling, there’s also Laela.

Fatkins · 14/07/2019 19:22

I really like Layla, but it does seem to be quite popular / overused.

Saskia and Anastasia are less well used and imo a little classier.

strawberry2017 · 14/07/2019 19:19

I don't like it, it's always seemed a little chavy to me. But I think that's because of the people I know who have used it for their children.

Swipe left for the next trending thread