Leela
Leela was the 1282nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 175 babies. Its best year was 2013, when it ranked 1088th; the most babies were born in 2016 (232). Over the last ten years it has moved down 75 places. More babies were named Leela in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,282 girls, down 88 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 175girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2016232 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,545babies recorded
Leela popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,282 | 175 |
| 2020 | #1,194 | 194 |
| 2010 | #1,608 | 135 |
| 2000 | #3,246 | 42 |
| 1990 | #4,068 | 25 |
| 1980 | #4,076 | 19 |
| 1970 | #7,554 | 6 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | #5,396 | 5 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Leela, counting every spelling?
Leela is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,097 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,282 for Leela on its own. Together these spellings went to 204 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leela | 175 | #1,282 | 897 |
| Leelah | 19 | #6,238 | 86 |
| Lelah | 10 | #9,825 | 59 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Leela?
175 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Leela (0.05 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Leela born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 48 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Leela.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Leela?
About 4,500 people born in the US named Leela are alive today, with a median age of 12; half are between 7 and 18. That makes Leela a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Leela by state
How common Leela was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (2.0×), New Jersey (1.7×), Illinois (1.7×), New York (1.6×). In 32 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Leela: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Leela, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Leela
How popular is the name Leela?
Leela was the 1282nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 175 babies. Its best year was 2013, when it ranked 1088th; the most babies were born in 2016 (232). Over the last ten years it has moved down 75 places. More babies were named Leela in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Leela a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Leela in the US.
Where is Leela most popular?
In 2021–2025, Leela was most common in Minnesota (0.22 per 1,000 girls), followed by New Jersey and Illinois.