Laila is from the Arabic laylā (ليلى — night, born at night). A modern American baby name in the broader Arabic-American heritage aesthetic. Laila in Arabic tradition — the foundational Arabic feminine name for night; central to the iconic foundational **Layla and Majnun (Layla wa Majnun) — the iconic 7th-century Arabic love story — widely considered one of the foundational tragic romances in world literature alongside Romeo and Juliet; adapted into the iconic 12th-century Persian epic by Nizami Ganjavi (1188); covered by iconic Western musicians including Eric Clapton's iconic 1970 song Layla with Derek and the Dominos. Laila Ali (born 1977) — iconic American boxer; widely considered one of the foundational figures of modern women's boxing; daughter of iconic legendary heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) — widely considered the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time; WBC, WIBA, IWBF, and IBA Super Middleweight World Champion; undefeated professional boxing career (24-0, 21 KOs) from 2000-2007 — the most successful undefeated record in modern women's boxing; her foundational fights include the iconic 2001 bout against Jacqui Frazier-Lyde (daughter of Joe Frazier — Muhammad Ali's foundational rival) — widely covered globally; subsequent TV career as a fitness expert + media personality; finished 3rd on Dancing with the Stars (Season 4, 2007) opposite Maksim Chmerkovskiy; over 500,000 Instagram followers. Princess Laila** — Arabic heritage naming.
Featured throughout Arabic heritage and boxing.
Laila reduces to nine.