Elena vs Layla

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Elena

Girl #45 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"Bright, shining light; torch"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

Italian Spanish Russian Romanian Greek English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#45
Total SSA Count
4,567
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Ellie, Ella, Lena

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Elena →

Layla

Girl #37 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"night, dark beauty"

Origin: Arabic layl meaning night

Cultural Roots

Arabic Persian Hebrew English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#37
Total SSA Count
5,305
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Lay, Layla

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Layla →

Popularity Comparison

Elena Rank #45
Layla Rank #37

Layla is more popular, ranked #37 vs #45 for Elena.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Elena ___

  • Elena Rose
  • Elena Grace
  • Elena Marie
  • Elena Sofia
  • Elena Claire
  • Elena Louise

Layla ___

  • Layla Rose
  • Layla Grace
  • Layla Mae
  • Layla Jean
  • Layla Anne
  • Layla Claire

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Elena

Sofia Isabella Catalina Marco Mateo

If you choose Layla

Zara Sofia Omar Cyrus Nadia

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elena or Layla more popular?

Layla is more popular, ranked #37 compared to Elena at #45 in the United States.

What do Elena and Layla mean?

Elena means "Bright, shining light; torch" (Greek origin). Layla means "night, dark beauty" (Arabic layl meaning night origin).

Are Elena and Layla boy or girl names?

Elena is primarily a girl name. Layla is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Elena ← Full profile: Layla Browse all baby names