Layla vs Lilly
Layla and Lillycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2022, Layla was ranked #29 and Lilly #97 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2017, Layla was ranked #36 and Lilly #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Layla was ranked #41 and Lilly #138 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Layla was ranked #56 and Lilly #130 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Layla was ranked #60 and Lilly #141 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Layla was ranked #91 and Lilly #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Layla and Lilly over time
Layla and Lilly appear together in 5 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Layla held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lilly in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lilly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Layla in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2011, Layla moved ahead of Lilly in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #36 and #35 the year before became #35 and #40.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Layla and Lilly averaged 35.8 places apart, ending at #56 and #130.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Layla #29 in 2012, Lilly #27 in 2011.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Layla held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Lilly in 8.
Highest recorded here: Layla #29 in 2012, Lilly #27 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Layla #56, Lilly #130.
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1983–2025
Layla held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Lilly in 5.
Highest recorded here: Layla #44 in 2016, Lilly #75 in 2012.
The order changed in 2009: Layla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #106 and #102; by 2009 that had become #74 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Layla #60, Lilly #141.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2006–2024
Layla held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lilly in 4.
Highest recorded here: Layla #62 in 2019, Lilly #106 in 2011.
The order changed in 2012: Layla moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #135 and #106; by 2012 that had become #89 and #106.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Layla #91, Lilly #227.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 2004–2017
Layla held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Lilly in 7.
Highest recorded here: Layla #28 in 2014, Lilly #35 in 2009.
The order changed in 2011: Layla moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #36 and #35; by 2011 that had become #35 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Layla #36, Lilly #89.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 2010–2022
Layla held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lilly in 5.
Highest recorded here: Layla #29 in 2022, Lilly #39 in 2011.
The order changed in 2015: Layla moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #66 and #62; by 2015 that had become #51 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Layla #29, Lilly #97.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Layla | Lilly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Means 'night' in Arabic. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Arabic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleɪlə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #35 (2025) | Norway · Girls #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Layla has a recorded origin (Arabic); Lilly does not have one recorded yet.
- Layla and Lilly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Layla; Lilly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Layla
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #529 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2020 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Lilly
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #150 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls