Names › Girls' names › L › Lila
Lila
Meaning: play (Sanskrit); night (Arabic) · Origin: Sanskrit / Arabic · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
Has roots in Sanskrit lila ('play, divine play') and Arabic layla ('night'); also a short form of Delilah.
Nicknames
Lils
Variants & related names
Lilah, Leila, Lyla
Lila name art
A free preview of a printable “Lila” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Lila mean?
Lila means “play (Sanskrit); night (Arabic)”. It comes from Sanskrit / Arabic.
Is Lila a popular name?
Yes — Lila has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Lila?
Lils.
What are other forms of Lila?
Lilah, Leila, Lyla.
Similar names
Arya · Luna · Lily · Layla · Leah · Lucy
More: names starting with L · all girls' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.