Nameberry of the Day: Layla
April 5: Laylat-al-Qadr
Today’s featured name is Layla — an Arabic name related to the Muslim holiday Laylat-al-Qadr that is celebrated today on April 5th.
Laylat-al-Qadr is a sacred day in Muslim tradition, observed on the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan, the Holy Month. In English, the name translates to “Night of Power.” Also written as Laylatul Qadr or Laylat-ul-Qadr, the name combines laylat meaning “a night” and al-qadr meaning “measure or value of destiny.”
It is believed to be the night during which the Angel Jibril revealed the first verses of the Quran to the Muslim prophet Muhummad.
On the night of Laylat-al-Qadr, people of the Muslim faith will pray and give to charity. It is believed that the rewards for good deeds are multiplied on this date.
The feminine name Layla sits right at the beginning of Laylat-al-Qadr, and is an Arabic name meaning “night.” Although it is pronounced “LIE-la” in its native Arabic, the majority of English speakers know it best as “LAY-la”.
Layla rocketed in popularity in the early 2000s, and has sat in the top 30 since 2013. She peaked at #23 in 2019 but fell to #29 in 2022. However, its frequency in classrooms and on playgrounds might be higher given all of the spelling variations: Laylah, Leyla, Leila, and Laila all appear in the US top 1000.
Given her spunky feel, melodic sound, and alluring meaning, it’s no mystery why cross-cultural beauty Layla has found a stronghold on the popularity charts!
