Girl · #1,273 in 2026

Leela

Leela or 'Lila' is a name of Sanskrit origin and related to Hindu religion and philosophy. Sanskrit word leela/lila can be translated as "play or divine play" (noun), as in the Hindu philosophical concept of leela between Radha and Krishna. It can also mean 'act of God'. Leela name is also associated with Hindu goddess Durga.

Current Rank
#1,273
Peak Rank
#1,086 (2016)
Total Babies
5K
5-Yr Trend
-8%
1898
First Year
2026
Last Year
2016
Peak Year
#1086
Peak Rank
5K
Total Count
72
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Leela

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Leela or 'Lila' is a name of Sanskrit origin and related to Hindu religion and philosophy. Sanskrit word leela/lila can be translated as "play or divine play" (noun), as in the Hindu philosophical concept of leela between Radha and Krishna. It can also mean 'act of God'. Leela name is also associated with Hindu goddess Durga.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Leela

Leela first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1898, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2016, when 232 Leelas were born — ranking #1,106 that year. As of 2026, Leela ranks #1,273 for baby girls with 180 births, gradually falling (-8%). In total, more than 5K Leelas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Leela

Phonetically similar names — useful when Leela is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Leela

What does the name Leela mean?
Leela or 'Lila' is a name of Sanskrit origin and related to Hindu religion and philosophy. Sanskrit word leela/lila can be translated as "play or divine play" (noun), as in the Hindu philosophical concept of leela between Radha and Krishna. It can also mean 'act of God'. Leela name is also associated with Hindu goddess Durga.
How popular is Leela in 2026?
In 2026, Leela ranks #1,273 among girls' names in the U.S., with 180 babies given the name that year.
When was Leela most popular?
Leela reached its peak popularity in 2016, ranking #1,086 that year with 232 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Leela most popular?
Leela has historically been most popular in District of Columbia, Connecticut, Virginia. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Leela.
Is Leela a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Leela is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Leela?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Leela include Rheba, Helaine, Clarence. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Rheba
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Helaine
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Clarence
Peak #1085
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Lassie
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👧
Floss
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Exilda
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Marye
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Herbert
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About the name Leela

Leela is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1898 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Leela's peak popularity came in 2016 when it ranked #1,086. Use the chart and map above to compare Leela's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.