Lilting Girl Names Lift the Spirits
Names like Lily, Layla, and Leilani have one of the distinctive sounds of this generation. Although they are of different origins and styles, they share the L-vowel-L-vowel pattern: “La-La names”, we call them. Light and lilting, it’s no wonder parents lo-lo-love them.
Here's our guide to girl names with this lovely sound, including classic Lily, fast-rising Leilani, modern Lynlee and more.
Lily and Friends
Fifty years ago, Lily was an old lady name, out of style and the Top 1000. Thirty years ago, it was a fashion-forward vintage revival. And today? It’s hard to imagine a time without this modern classic.
It has pulled up similar-sounding names along with it, including existing international classic Liliana, rehabilitated “bad girl” Lilith, and creations like Lilybelle. So when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry named their daughter Lilibet, it wasn't just a whimsical honor name, but a choice that totally fits today’s trends. Lilibet broke onto the charts in 2021 and more than doubled in use in 2022, when it was given to 25 baby girls.
Here are our favorite names with a “Lily” sound, most of which have potential for Lily (in any spelling) as a nickname.
Layla and Leilani: Global Stars
Layla is possibly the most successful Arabic crossover of all: in fact, many people don’t even realize it’s an ancient Arabic name. It leaped into the charts in the 1970s, after the release of the rock song Layla, but it really took off in the 1990s, at the same time as Lily.
There are dozens of spelling variants, some more ambiguous than others. Is Lila pronounced the same as Leela? Or is it more like Lyla, or Lailah? The Turkish spelling Leyla is on a rising streak at the moment.
Speaking of rising stars, from the other side of the world comes Leilani. Meaning “heavenly flower” in Hawaiian, this name has been rising steadily since the 1990s, and entered the Top 100 in 2020. It has sparked over 30 spelling variations, from Laylonnie to Lailany, which are especially popular in the states bordering Mexico, and has led parents to similar names like Kailani and Ehlani. All are pretty, but the Hawaiian originals are likely to be the most timeless choices.
Lola and Lula: Vintage Darlings
Change the vowel to a “Lo” or “Lu” sound, and you get names full of glamor and spunk, which were popular in the early twentieth century.
Lola first returned to public attention as the nickname Madonna gave her daughter Lourdes; since then, it has been a steady favorite, though never at the very top of the charts. (Her saucier cousin Lolita remains a rare, controversial choice.)
Lula, Luella and Lulu, which all originated as diminutives for Lu- names like Lucy and Louisa, are fun yet classy candidates for revival.
Hidden La-La Names
These names don’t begin with L, but still have a prominent “lala” sound. For some, like Delilah and Tallulah, the lilting sound has played a big role in their rise in recent years. Others are crying out to be more widely known, like vintage Eulalia and Arabic import Jalila.
- Aleela
- Alilet
- Alula
- Aulelei
- Citlali
- Delilah
- Elilta
- Elula
- Eulalia
- Galilea
- Galilee
- Haleli
- Hallelujah
- Jalila
- Khalila
- Malala
- Oluwadamilola
- Tallulah
- Tigerlily
- Tlalli
Unisex La-La names
While most “La-La names” are heavily feminine, there are a few examples in the modern unisex style. Linley was only given to boys until the 1950s, but now only charts as a female name — as does the more popular spelling Lynlee.
Leland, on the other hand, is a Top 500 name for boys, but is also given to a few girls each year. And the shortened version Laelynn (with many spelling variations) is exclusively used for girls.
Rare La-La Names
Honorable mention to some lesser-known names with the “La-La” sound:
Lilac
A surprisingly rare botanical name, and its French form Lilas.
Lilou
A super-fun diminutive currently hot in France — and there's also the Fifth Element spelling Leeloo.
Laylee
Laylee is in the charts in several spellings that together add up to a mini trend. It combines the lilting La-La sound with the ending of Hayley and Kaylee.
Lelia
Although it looks like Leila, Lelia has its own distinct Latin origins. It was popular at the end of the nineteenth century, making it a prime vintage choice now.
Lalage
Pronounced with three syllables, Lalage is an ancient Greek name that has never made the US charts, making it one of the most unique (and somewhat counter-cultural) La-La names.