The name Lila is a girl’s name of German origin meaning “lilac”. In German, Lila is pronounced LEE-lah. The name derives from the German word “lila” meaning the color lilac or light purple. Lila has been used as a given name for girls since the late 19th century.
The color lilac has a light, soft, and feminine association which makes it a fitting inspiration for a girl’s name. Lilac also evokes the spring blooming of lilac bushes with their delightful flowers and aroma. This relates to the joy associated with a baby girl’s birth. Overall, Lila has an undeniably pretty and sweet connotation in the German language.
Meaning and Origin
As mentioned, Lila comes from the German word for the color lilac. It started being used as a name in Germany in the 1800s. Prior to this, Lila can be found as a Yiddish nickname for the Hebrew name Delilah. Delilah means “delicate, weak, or languishing” in Hebrew.
So the use of Lila as an independent given name appears to originate from the influence of the German word “lila”. Lilac originated from the French word lilas and came into English around 1775. Its origins before that are unclear but it may stem from the medieval Persian word lilak meaning “bluish”.
So while Lila came into German via the color word “lila”, the color name itself might derive from an older Persian vocabulary. In any case, Lila emerged as a German given name in the late 1800s based on the meaning of the color lilac.
Popularity
Lila first entered the top 1000 most popular girls names in the United States in 1951 when it was the 979th most common name. Its usage peaked in 2005 when it reached #224. As of 2021, Lila ranks #287 in popularity for girls in the US.
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1951 | #979 |
| 1960 | #825 |
| 1970 | #497 |
| 1980 | #377 |
| 1990 | #267 |
| 2000 | #253 |
| 2005 | #224 |
| 2010 | #260 |
| 2021 | #287 |
In Germany, Lila has been a top 100 name at times. It ranked in the top 10 during the late 1980s through the 1990s, peaking at #3 in 1996. It remained in the German top 50 until 2009 and is still a well-used name today.
| Year | Rank in Germany |
|---|---|
| 1980 | #35 |
| 1985 | #15 |
| 1990 | #4 |
| 1995 | #4 |
| 2000 | #13 |
| 2005 | #42 |
| 2010 | #80 |
| 2020 | #185 |
So while Lila has fallen from its peak popularity, it remains a well-known name in Germany. It was a top 10 staple for a decade and is still used today thanks to its pretty meaning.
Notable People
Some famous people with the name Lila include:
– Lila Kedrova (1917-2000) – Russian-born actress who won an Academy Award
– Lila Downs (born 1968) – American-Mexican singer-songwriter
– Lila Grace Moss (born 2002) – English fashion model, daughter of Kate Moss
– Lila Moss (born 1999) – British fashion model
– Lila Inman (born 1999) – Member of South Korean girl group Secret Number
– Lila Iké (born 1995) – Jamaican singer and deejay
– Lila Diane Sawyer (born 1945) – American broadcaster
So while not extremely common, Lila does have some namesakes across entertainment and pop culture.
Variants
There are a few different variant spellings of Lila:
– Leela – The Hindi spelling, from Sanskrit meaning “play” or “amusement”
– Leila – The Arabic spelling, meaning “night”
– Lila – The German spelling, meaning “lilac”
– Lyla – An English spelling variation
– Lilah – Another English variation
Leila is the most common alternate spelling, used across several languages and cultures. But Lila remains the standard German form based on the color meaning.
Conclusion
In summary, Lila is a girl’s name derived from the German word for the lilac flower color. It emerged as a given name in the late 1800s, inspired by the light purple shade lila. Lila has a soft, feminine, and spring-like vibe. While not exceedingly common, it has maintained moderate popularity over the years, especially in Germany where it was once a top 10 name. The variations Leila and Lyla offer some alternate spellings, but Lila remains the conventional German form of this delicate, floral name.
