NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Layli

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "night" or "dark beauty".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Layli is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Layli popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2016 to 2024. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Layli. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Layli ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 3 girls were registered as Layli.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Layli as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2016

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Layli mean?

The name Layli is of Arabic origin and has been widely used in the Middle East and other regions with significant Muslim populations. It is derived from the Arabic word "layl," which means "night." The name is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 7th or 8th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Layli can be found in the famous Persian love story "Layli and Majnun" by the 12th-century poet Nizami Ganjavi. The story revolves around the tragic love between Qays ibn Al-Mulawwah, known as Majnun, and his beloved Layli. This tale has been widely celebrated in Persian and Arabic literature and has inspired numerous works of art, music, and poetry over the centuries.

In Islamic tradition, Layli is sometimes associated with the concept of divine love and spiritual longing. It is mentioned in various Sufi texts and poetry, where the name is used as a metaphor for the soul's yearning for union with the divine.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Layli. One such person was Layli Khanum (1805-1857), a prominent 19th-century Azerbaijani poet and writer. Another was Layli Javan (1926-2006), an Iranian actress and singer who gained fame in the mid-20th century for her performances in Persian classical music and theater.

In the world of literature, Layli Bashir (1925-2008) was a renowned Palestinian poet and author, known for her works that explored themes of identity, exile, and resistance. Layli Long Soldier (born 1983) is a contemporary Native American poet and writer, whose work has been widely acclaimed for its exploration of indigenous experience and history.

Layli Gözəlova (1905-1970) was a celebrated Azerbaijani opera singer and actress, who made significant contributions to the development of Azerbaijani national opera. Her performances on stage and in films earned her widespread recognition and admiration.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Layli throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields such as literature, art, music, and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Layli over time

The chart below shows babies named Layli registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2016 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Layli, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Layli
01223201620202024

Decades

Layli by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Layli 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 #5891 3 1
2010s #5785 3 1

Related

Names similar to Layli

FAQ

Layli: questions and answers

How popular is the name Layli in the UK right now?

In 2024, Layli was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Layli most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 3 babies registered as Layli in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Layli?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "night" or "dark beauty".

How many people are called Layli in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Layli across the 2 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.