NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Liela

A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "night beauty".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Liela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Liela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 4 births.

This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2014 to 2016. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Liela. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Liela ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 4 girls were registered as Liela.
  • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Liela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5785

2016

Births in 2016

3

Latest year

Peak year

2014

4 births

Estimated living

7

2026

Meaning

What does Liela mean?

The name Liela has its origins in the Latvian language and culture. It is a diminutive form of the name Lija, which is derived from the biblical name Lija or Leah. The name can be traced back to ancient Hebrew, where it means "weary" or "tired." In Latvian, the name Liela carries connotations of being a small or little one.

Historically, the name Liela does not appear to have been widely used in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it gained popularity in Latvia and surrounding regions during the Middle Ages and Renaissance period. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Liela can be found in a Latvian folktale from the 16th century, where it is used as the name of a young maiden.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Liela. One such figure was Liela Baumane (1892-1980), a Latvian painter and artist who was known for her pioneering work in abstract art. Another notable Liela was Liela Kauņūze (1891-1984), a Latvian actress and theater director who played a significant role in the development of Latvian theater in the early 20th century.

In the realm of literature, Liela Strazdiņa (1895-1976) was a Latvian writer and poet who gained recognition for her works depicting the lives of Latvian peasants and the natural beauty of her homeland. Liela Vālbērga (1908-1994) was a Latvian biologist and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant ecology and conservation.

Lastly, Liela Mārdžija (1914-2002) was a Latvian ceramic artist and sculptor who gained international acclaim for her innovative and expressive works in clay. Her sculptures and ceramic pieces can be found in numerous museums and galleries around the world.

While the name Liela may not have had a widespread historical presence, it has been carried by several notable individuals who have left their mark in various fields, particularly in the arts and sciences, within the Latvian cultural context.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Liela over time

The chart below shows babies named Liela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Liela, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Liela
01234201420152016

Decades

Liela by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Liela 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
2010s #5235 7 2

Related

Names similar to Liela

FAQ

Liela: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Liela was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Liela most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 4 babies registered as Liela in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Liela?

A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "night beauty".

How many people are called Liela in the UK?

A total of 7 babies have been registered as Liela 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.