UK boy's name
Laylan
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "night beauty" or "born at night".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Laylan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Laylan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3848, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 8 births.
This profile covers 57 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2007 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 57 living people in the UK are called Laylan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Laylan ranked #3848 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 8 boys were registered as Laylan.
- • About 57 living people in the UK are estimated to have Laylan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3848
2020
Births in 2020
4
Latest year
Peak year
2018
8 births
Estimated living
57
2026
Meaning
What does Laylan mean?
The name Laylan has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating from the Middle East region. The name is derived from the Arabic word "layl," which means "night" or "darkness." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been associated with the beauty, mystery, or serenity of the night.
In Islamic literature and history, there are references to individuals with the name Laylan, although their significance or roles may not be extensively documented. One prominent figure bearing this name was Laylan al-Dimashqi, a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar from Damascus, Syria, who lived in the 12th century CE.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Laylan can be traced back to the medieval Islamic world, particularly in regions such as the Middle East and North Africa. However, it is essential to note that record-keeping practices and the preservation of historical documents from that era were often limited, making it challenging to pinpoint the exact origin and timeline of the name's usage.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Laylan, although their significance may vary across different cultures and time periods. One such figure was Laylan al-Basri, an influential Islamic scholar and theologian from Basra, Iraq, who lived in the 8th century CE. He was known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his teachings on various aspects of the faith.
Another individual worth mentioning is Laylan al-Mutatabbib, a renowned physician and scholar from Persia (modern-day Iran) who lived during the 9th century CE. He made significant contributions to the field of medicine and was highly regarded for his expertise in the treatment of various ailments.
In more recent times, Laylan al-Sayegh, a Kuwaiti writer and poet born in 1949, gained recognition for his literary works and contributions to the cultural landscape of the Arabian Gulf region.
It is important to note that while the name Laylan has its origins in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, transcending cultural and geographic boundaries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Laylan over time
The chart below shows babies named Laylan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Laylan, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2020, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Laylan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Laylan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3848 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3698 | 38 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3315 | 15 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Laylan
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Laylan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Laylan in the UK right now?
In 2020, Laylan was ranked #3848 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Laylan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 8 babies registered as Laylan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Laylan?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "night beauty" or "born at night".
How many people are called Laylan in the UK?
A total of 57 babies have been registered as Laylan across the 12 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.