Lila is a beloved international baby name. Striking in its simplicity, this name has cultural relevance on nearly every continent. Lila Cheney is a popular character in the Marvel Comics universe, Lila Fowler is the name of the well-respected rival in the Sweet Valley High series, and Lila Maria Sucre is a character on television's Prison Break. Keep reading to learn more about this name.
Meaning of the name Lila:
Sanskrit: Play, amusement
Arabic, Hebrew: Night, dark, dusk
German: Purple, lilac
Origin of the name Lila:
Lila is an international baby name with several etymologies. In South Asia, the Hindi name Lila (लीला) derives from the Sanskrit word for “play” or “amusement.” For speakers of Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian, Lila is a variation of the name Leila (meaning “night” or “dark”). And in German, Lila is a female given name that means “lilac.”
Symbolism of the name Lila:
Lila is a global name with various meanings around the world. In Hinduism, Lila is an interpretation of the universe as a divine playground for the gods. Lila is also a variation of the names Leila and Layla. These symbolic names can indicate that the girl was born during the evening or has dark hair and features. Lila is also a German name that means “purple,” and the symbol for this name is the lilac flower.
Style of the name Lila:
Classic
Gender of the name Lila:
Lila is a girl's name.
Pronunciation of the name Lila:
LEE-la
Number of syllables in the name Lila:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Lila:
The name Lila evokes feelings of devotion and love.
Alternative spellings for the name Lila:
Nicknames for the name Lila:
- Lili
- Lala
- Lee
Popularity of the name Lila:
According to the Social Security Administration index, Lila was the 226th most popular baby name for girls in 2020.
Related names for the name Lila:
Great middle names for Lila and their meanings:
- Azure (sky blue)
- Bellamy (beautiful friend)
- Charmaine (delight, charm)
- Coralie (coral)
- Daisy (day's eye)
- Milena (gracious, dear)
- Oriole (yellow songbird)
- Simone (God has heard)
- Summer (warmest season)
- Traci (harvest time)
Famous people with the name Lila:
- Lila Amen (ballerina)
- Lila Tracey Cassidy (daughter of actor Shaun Paul Cassidy)
- Lila Althea Fenwick (human rights lawyer)
- Lila Addison Jones (television personality)
- Lila Skye Kalis (daughter of skateboarder Josh Kalis)
- Lila Elaine McCann (singer)
- Lila Mojumdar (writer)
- Lila Naidu (actress)
- Lila Grace Rose (political activist)
- Lila Diane Sawyer (broadcast journalist)
Lila in popular culture:
- Lila Dahl Ames (character in the Gilead trilogy)
- Lila Cheney (character in the Marvel Comics universe)
- Lila Fowler (primary rival in the Sweet Valley High series)
- Lila Maria Sucre (character on television's Prison Break)
- Lila Fantasia Walker (character in the movie One False Move)
- Lila Tournay West (character on television's Dexter)