Leylan
A feminine name of Turkish origin meaning "born at night".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Leylan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Leylan today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Leylan births was 2008 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Leylan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Leylan with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Leylan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2008
5 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2008 SSA rank
#13,783
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Leylan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Leylan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Leylan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Leylan
The name Leylan is believed to have originated from the Turkic languages spoken in Central Asia and parts of Eastern Europe. It is derived from the Turkish word "ley," which means "night," and the Persian suffix "-an," indicating a person or place. Therefore, Leylan can be interpreted as "one who belongs to the night" or "night dweller."
In ancient times, the Turkic nomadic tribes roamed the vast steppes and deserts of Central Asia, where the night sky held great significance in their culture and traditions. The name Leylan may have been given to individuals born during the night or those who displayed a connection to the mystical qualities associated with the darkness.
While there are no definitive historical records of the name's earliest usage, it is believed to have been in circulation among the Turkic peoples for several centuries. Some scholars suggest that the name may have been mentioned in ancient texts or oral traditions, but concrete evidence is scarce.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leylan comes from the 12th century, when a Seljuk Turkish ruler, Leylan Shah, governed a region in modern-day Iran. He was known for his patronage of the arts and his support for the construction of magnificent architectural masterpieces, such as the Leylan Mosque in Isfahan.
Another notable figure bearing the name Leylan was a 14th-century Sufi mystic and poet from Persia, Leylan Ata. His works explored themes of spirituality, love, and the human condition, and he is revered in Iranian and Central Asian cultures.
In more recent history, Leylan Pasha was a prominent Ottoman statesman and military leader in the 19th century. He served as the governor of several provinces and played a crucial role in the modernization efforts of the Ottoman Empire.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Leylan was the Uzbek Soviet writer and playwright, Leylan Kasymova (1918-1998). Her works, which often focused on the struggles and triumphs of women in Central Asian society, earned her numerous accolades and recognition throughout the Soviet Union.
Leylan Stavere (1957-2020) was a renowned Dutch actress and director, known for her performances in both theater and film. She was celebrated for her versatility and her ability to bring complex characters to life on stage and screen.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Leylan throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage.
People
Leylan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Leylan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Leylan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Leylan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Leylan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Leylan a common name?
We classify Leylan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Leylan most popular?
The single biggest year for Leylan was 2008, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Leylan is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Leylan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Leylan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Leylan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Leylan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Leylan in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Leylan can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Leylan?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Leylan at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.