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
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.”
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.
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Nicknames for Lila
The name Lila evokes feelings of devotion and love. Typically, a nickname for Lila can look like “Lili” or “Lee” but we've compiled a list of options to help get you started. Feel free to come up with a nickname that is unique to the person in your life.
Lila Name Details
Style: Classic
Gender: Lila is traditionally considered to be a girls name.
Pronunciation: LEE-la
Syllables: Two
Alternative Spelling for Lila
Lila Name Popularity
According to the Social Security Administration index, Lila was the 226th most popular baby name for girls in 2020.
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Related Names for 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 Named 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)