Lylah means "night" — a variant spelling of Layla, derived from the Hebrew and Arabic word for night.
Lylah is a female name of Hebrew and Arabic origin, a phonetic variant of Layla — derived from the Semitic root meaning "night." In Hebrew, לַיְלָה (Layla) directly translates to "night." In Arabic, it carries the same meaning and gained enduring fame through the 7th-century Arabic love poem Layla and Majnun — one of the most celebrated romances in classical literature, often compared to Romeo and Juliet. Lylah is a modern English spelling that softens the name while preserving its ancient elegance.
The story of Layla and Majnun has made this name synonymous with beauty, devotion, and romantic longing across the Middle East, Persia, and Central Asia for over a thousand years. The name entered Western consciousness largely through Eric Clapton's 1970 rock ballad "Layla," inspired by Nizami Ganjavi's 12th-century Persian retelling of the poem. The spelling Lylah specifically is a contemporary English variant that combines the visual softness of "y" with the flowing "ah" ending.
Lylah carries an air of mystery and gentle beauty — qualities associated with the night itself: calm, deep, and full of hidden depths. Parents choosing this spelling often want the poetic resonance of the traditional name with a fresher, more distinctive visual feel. Children named Lylah are often described as gentle, creative, and imaginative — with a rich inner world and a naturally artistic temperament.
The Layla/Lyla/Lilah/Lylah spelling cluster is one of the most popular name families in the English-speaking world. Lylah itself peaked at #544 in the US, #496 in the UK, and #728 in Canada — putting it in the middle of the cluster, distinctly rarer than Layla or Lyla but far from obscure. Parents looking for a fresh spelling of a beloved classic often choose Lylah for its combination of the "y" from Lyla with the flowing "ah" ending from Layla.
Lylah means "night" — it is a variant spelling of Layla, derived from the Hebrew and Arabic word for night. The name has been associated with beauty and mystery for over a thousand years.
All three share the same meaning and origin. Lylah is a modern spelling that combines the "y" from Lyla with the "ah" ending from Layla — creating a slightly different visual feel while sounding nearly identical.
Lylah peaked at #544 in the US, #496 in the UK, and #728 in Canada — less common than the traditional Layla but well-established in all three countries, making it a distinctive yet recognizable choice.
Lylah is pronounced LY-lah — two syllables with the stress on the first. It rhymes with "Kayla" but starting with an "L."
The name has deep roots in both Hebrew and Arabic traditions. It gained centuries of fame through the Arabic love story Layla and Majnun and reached Western audiences largely through Eric Clapton's 1970 rock ballad "Layla."
Browse related
Discover more baby names by letter and origin: