UK girl's name
Liala
An Arabic feminine name with origins meaning "exquisite" or "beautiful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Liala is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Liala popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2007 to 2009. 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 Liala. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Liala ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 girls were registered as Liala.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Liala as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Liala mean?
The name Liala originates from the Arabic language and culture, with its roots dating back to the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "layl," which means "night." The name Liala can be translated to mean "night beauty" or "beautiful as the night."
In the Arabic tradition, names often carry symbolic meanings and poetic associations. The name Liala evokes the beauty and serenity of the night, reflecting the cultural significance of celestial bodies and the natural world in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Liala can be found in the ancient Arabic literary work, "The Book of One Thousand and One Nights," also known as "The Arabian Nights." In this collection of Middle Eastern folk tales, the character Scheherazade tells stories to the king, Shahryar, each night to delay her execution. The name Liala appears as a character in some of these tales, although her role and significance vary across different versions and translations.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Liala. One of the earliest recorded was Liala al-Akhyaliya (c. 640-704 AD), an Arab poet and singer from Medina. She was renowned for her talent and praised by her contemporaries for her contributions to Arabic literature.
In the 19th century, Liala Mustapha (1825-1901) was a famous Egyptian dancer and entertainer. She performed for royalty and aristocracy in Egypt and gained widespread recognition for her grace and skill.
Another notable figure was Liala Uddin Ahmed (1896-1973), a Bangladeshi educator and women's rights activist. She played a pivotal role in promoting female education and empowerment in the region during the early 20th century.
In the realm of art and literature, Liala Bozovic (1923-2003) was a Serbian painter and art historian. Her vibrant works and contributions to the study of Serbian art and culture earned her widespread acclaim.
Finally, Liala Amin (1934-2021) was an Iraqi-American artist and sculptor. Her works, which often explored themes of identity and culture, were exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, earning her recognition as a significant figure in contemporary art.
These individuals, spanning different eras and fields, have all contributed to the rich cultural tapestry associated with the name Liala, preserving its historical significance and ongoing legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Liala over time
The chart below shows babies named Liala registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Liala, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Liala by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Liala 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5379 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Liala
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Liala: questions and answers
How popular is the name Liala in the UK right now?
In 2009, Liala was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Liala most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Liala in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Liala?
An Arabic feminine name with origins meaning "exquisite" or "beautiful".
How many people are called Liala in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Liala 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.