Layla is an Arabic name meaning "night" and, by extension, "dark beauty". The medieval Persian and Arabic love story of Layla and Majnun inspired countless poets, and in 1970 Eric Clapton's song Layla introduced the name to American ears. It ranked number 407 in the United States in 2000, has been in the top 100 since 2007, peaked at number 23 in 2019 and ranks number 36 among girls in 2025.