Lila
Variant of Leila or Lilah, depending on pronunciation; also associated with Spanish lila (“lilac”).
Every Lila since 1880 — 76,550 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Lila
Lila is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #187 in 2025 with 1,670 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 76,550 American babies have been named Lila. Its peak came in 2010, when 1,969 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Lila stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Lila year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,670 | #187 | — | — |
| 2024 | 1,482 | #207 | — | — |
| 2023 | 1,401 | #213 | — | — |
| 2022 | 1,354 | #221 | — | — |
| 2021 | 1,341 | #223 | — | — |
| 2020 | 1,298 | #228 | — | — |
| 2019 | 1,373 | #228 | — | — |
| 2018 | 1,405 | #225 | — | — |
| 2017 | 1,474 | #210 | — | — |
| 2016 | 1,561 | #210 | — | — |
| 2015 | 1,658 | #199 | — | — |
| 2014 | 1,776 | #184 | — | — |
| 2013 | 1,703 | #190 | — | — |
| 2012 | 1,728 | #182 | — | — |
| 2011 | 1,921 | #163 | — | — |
| 2010 | 1,969 | #155 | — | — |
| 2009 | 1,935 | #168 | — | — |
| 2008 | 1,852 | #180 | — | — |
| 2007 | 1,357 | #259 | — | — |
| 2006 | 1,006 | #329 | — | — |
| 2005 | 680 | #448 | — | — |
| 2004 | 599 | #491 | — | — |
| 2003 | 492 | #569 | — | — |
| 2002 | 414 | #618 | — | — |
| 2001 | 394 | #641 | — | — |
| 2000 | 307 | #751 | — | — |
| 1995 | 124 | #1,333 | — | — |
| 1990 | 125 | #1,304 | — | — |
| 1985 | 132 | #1,101 | — | — |
| 1980 | 150 | #988 | — | — |
| 1975 | 103 | #1,134 | — | — |
| 1970 | 123 | #1,014 | — | — |
| 1965 | 167 | #767 | — | — |
| 1960 | 291 | #580 | — | — |
| 1955 | 355 | #483 | — | — |
| 1950 | 351 | #432 | — | — |
| 1945 | 368 | #362 | — | — |
| 1940 | 529 | #270 | — | — |
| 1935 | 753 | #226 | 7 | #3,135 |
| 1930 | 1,203 | #170 | 5 | #4,320 |
| 1925 | 1,248 | #175 | — | — |
| 1920 | 840 | #227 | 6 | #4,084 |
| 1915 | 684 | #230 | — | — |
| 1910 | 311 | #209 | — | — |
| 1905 | 211 | #212 | — | — |
| 1900 | 268 | #191 | — | — |
| 1895 | 175 | #204 | — | — |
| 1890 | 120 | #222 | — | — |
| 1885 | 62 | #254 | — | — |
| 1880 | 36 | #257 | — | — |
Famous people named Lila
- Lila Kedrova Actor · 1918–2000
- Lila Downs Singer · b. 1968
- Lila Tretikov Businessperson · b. 1978
- Lila Lee Actor · 1905–1973
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lila mean?
Variant of Leila or Lilah, depending on pronunciation; also associated with Spanish lila (“lilac”).
How popular is the name Lila in 2025?
Lila ranked #187 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,670 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Lila?
76,550 babies have been named Lila in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Lila most popular?
Lila peaked in 2010, when 1,969 newborns received the name.
Is Lila a boy or girl name?
Lila is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Lila rising or falling?
Lila has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Lila?
Well-known people named Lila include Lila Kedrova (actor), Lila Downs (singer), Lila Tretikov (businessperson).