Leela
How to say it: LEE-luh · /ˈlilə/
Divine play or cosmic sport; in Hindu philosophy, the creative play of the divine.
Leela was the 880th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 175 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2010s, its births are down about 29% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #968 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #880 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 175 |
| Share of births | 1 in 13,208 |
| Peak decade | 2010s |
| Change over 10 years | −29% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #968 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,735 among girls’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Well used though past its 2010s high, Leela lingers close to that peak in the present day. A gentle slide is projected ahead.
What goes with it
Light and lilting with soft sounds and a gentle creative glow. Mira reflects a similar charm.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Leela is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Hindi.
In France: #1,735 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Leela
- Leela James (born 1983)American musician
- Leela Chitnis (1909–2003)Indian actress
- Leela Gandhi (born 1966)Indian-born literary and cultural theorist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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