Originally I fell in love with the name [name]Lila[/name], paired with my middle name, [name]Claire[/name]. Now, I can’t decide between [name]Lila[/name] or [name]Layla[/name]. So just looking for opinions on [name]Lila[/name] [name]Claire[/name] vs. [name]Layla[/name] [name]Claire[/name]. Thanks!
I love the vintage [name]Lila[/name] more than [name]Layla[/name] which seems trendier to me (especially the spelling). Personally, I prefer to spell it [name]Leila[/name] instead of [name]Layla[/name]. It all comes down to look and sound to me: [name]Lila[/name] [name]Claire[/name] looks and sounds better than [name]Layla[/name] [name]Claire[/name] (or [name]Leila[/name] [name]Claire[/name]).
[name]Lila[/name] [name]Claire[/name] is lovely, but [name]Layla[/name] [name]Claire[/name] is just as nice. I’m torn!
[name]Lila[/name] [name]Claire[/name], definitely. The popularity of [name]Layla[/name] surprises me - I wouldn’t want my name to start with “[name]Lay[/name].”
I prefer the softer [name]Layla[/name] but spelled [name]Leila[/name] or [name]Laila[/name]
I like [name]Layla[/name] much more and I have no idea why. I really strongly dislike [name]Lila[/name] and I really like [name]Layla[/name]. I like the song [name]Layla[/name] and I think it would be great to have a classic song with your name in it, and I think the long a sound is a lot nicer than the long i. [name]Lila[/name] also has more of a hipster image to me, which I don’t really care for. [name]Layla[/name] seems like it’s not trying as hard.
I find it very strange that people think [name]Layla[/name]/[name]Leila[/name] is so much trendier than [name]Lila[/name]/[name]Lyla[/name]. [name]True[/name], the former ranks higher in popularity, but it often has. If you compare the popularity graphs, [name]Leila[/name] starts out a bit higher than [name]Lila[/name] and starts dropping sooner and steadier- the drop starts in the 1890’s for [name]Leila[/name] and the 1930’s for [name]Lila[/name]. [name]Lila[/name] leaves the top 1000 completely for most of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, but [name]Leila[/name] was only out of the top 1000 for two years- 1968 and 1996- for as long as records have been kept. In 1996, variant spelling [name]Layla[/name] ranked. [name]Both[/name] names made a comeback in the late 90s. For me, all that information makes [name]Leila[/name] seem more classic than [name]Lila[/name], even though [name]Layla[/name] technically ranks higher. ([name]Layla[/name] is #33, [name]Lyla[/name] is #127, [name]Lila[/name] is #163, [name]Leila[/name] is #230)
[name]Layla[/name] is also the original form of the name- [name]Lila[/name] is the variant. [name]Lila[/name] exists in Hindi, but it’s actually pronounced [name]LEE[/name]-la. It’s the concept of playful and mischievous gods and I’m not entirely sure that it’s used as a name there. [name]Layla[/name]/[name]Leila[/name] really is an Arabic name pronounced [name]LAY[/name]-la and [name]Lila[/name] seems to be a variant on that name. I think the trendiness may be because [name]Layla[/name] is similar to [name]Kayla[/name], but then [name]Lila[/name] is similar to [name]Kyla[/name].
Exactly this. [name]Lila[/name] is far classier than [name]Layla[/name].
I love [name]Lila[/name] [name]Claire[/name]! [name]Layla[/name] just reminds me of the [name]Eric[/name] Clapton song and that gets on my nerves.
Wow thanks for all the replies everyone! I do love [name]Lila[/name], but part of me thinks [name]Layla[/name] flows better and sounds more feminine…I also love the [name]Eric[/name] Clapton song, so that definitely doesn’t bother me. However, I have noticed an increasing trend of names ending in “ayla”. I have always loved having such a unique name ([name]Malia[/name]) so I don’t want an overly used name, but it doesn’t have to be so unique it’s unheard of. I go back and forth on a regular basis, just can’t make up my mind!
Personally I like [name]Leila[/name] best because I grew up with one who was really sweet
I agree. I actually like [name]Layla[/name]/[name]Leila[/name] a lot, and it seems more classic and substantial. It’s the only name with L and no other consonant that doesn’t seem completely flimsy - perhaps because it’s a bit longer (and depending on how you pronounce [name]Lila[/name], [name]Layla[/name] has a diphthong and [name]Lila[/name] doesn’t) and perhaps because I’ve known a few and known the meaning a long time. I honestly don’t see how [name]Lila[/name] is classier, the “lay” part of [name]Layla[/name] notwithstanding. I’ve never given the “lay” part much thought as I grew up with the name [name]Layla[/name], but it could have middle school teasing potential - less so if you use the [name]Leila[/name] spelling. Regardless, I love names that mean “night” and “dark”! The song is a great bonus.
When I look at [name]Lila[/name] I want to say [name]Leela[/name], like the Hindi name and the one-eyed starship captain on Futurama (who is named after a symphony called the Turangalila - another instance of the “leela” pronunciation for “lila”). I have to struggle to think/say Lie-la, but that could change if the name and this pronunciation become more popular.
Bottom line: [name]Lila[/name], [name]Lula[/name] and [name]Lola[/name] look made-up, nicknamey and flimsy to me ([name]Lola[/name] less so than the others) but [name]Layla[/name] and [name]Leila[/name] don’t.
She’s so cute!
I Think [name]Layla[/name] is getting overused, but its still very pretty. I love lilah, but lile the [name]Lilah[/name] spelling better.
I prefer [name]Layla[/name]. Although I do like [name]Lila[/name], [name]Layla[/name] just seems so much classier and beautiful and unique to me. I can’t speak to the popularity issue, other than to say I only know one [name]Layla[/name] (in her late 20s). She is from a very traditional middle eastern family and she spells it [name]Layla[/name] for whatever that’s worth.
[name]Layla[/name]! I love it it’s on my top fave names:D