US Popularity Rank: 2402

Origin: Sanskrit

Meaning: Play; Dark, night beauty

There’s something mysterious and otherworldly about the name Leela. Perhaps it’s the beautiful feminine sound, which rolls easily off the tongue; or its obscure Sanskrit origins, which hint at a cosmic evocation; maybe it is even its Arabic variant, Lila, which refers to a “dark or night beauty.” A girl’s name, Leela is most commonly thought to mean “play,” although this doesn’t get at its full meaning. Leela is a Sanskrit word that cannot easily be translated into English. It is a way of describing all reality as a result of the divine absolute’s creative play and is a powerful and profound choice for baby.