Lila is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin that means "night" or "dark beauty". The name is derived from the Hebrew word "lailah", which translates to "night". Lila has been used as a given name since ancient times and was popular among Jews during biblical times. In some cultures, Lila is also associated with the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi. Throughout history, many notable individuals have borne the name Lila, including Lila Bowers, an American tennis player who won several national championships in the early 20th century, and Lila Acheson Wallace, co-founder of the popular American magazine, Reader's Digest. Today, Lila continues to be a popular choice for parents seeking a unique and meaningful name for their daughters.
The name Lila has been a popular choice for newborn girls in the United States over the past century, with its popularity fluctuating over time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were fewer than 100 births per year with the name Lila, with the exception of some peak years such as 1896 (with 201 births) and 1914 (with 561 births). However, it was not until the late 1990s that Lila began to gain significant popularity.
In 1997, there were 224 births with the name Lila, marking the beginning of a steady increase in its popularity. By 1999, this number had doubled to 312 births, and it continued to rise rapidly throughout the 2000s. In 2006, there were 1,006 births with the name Lila, and by 2008, this number had reached an all-time high of 1,851 births.
Although the popularity of the name Lila has fluctuated since then, it has remained a popular choice among parents. In 2021, there were 1,337 births with the name Lila, and in 2022, this number had risen slightly to 1,353 births.
Overall, over the past century, there have been a total of 73,318 births with the name Lila in the United States. Despite its fluctuations in popularity, it is clear that Lila remains a beloved and enduring name choice for parents across the country.