Layla

Layla comes from Arabic Layla meaning "night" or "dark beauty" — a name that evokes the velvet quality of a clear, star-filled night. In Arabic literary tradition, Layla is the beloved in the classic story of Qais and Layla, one of the great romantic narratives of the medieval Arab world. Eric Clapton's 1970 song "Layla" brought the name to Western popular consciousness, adding a layer of passionate longing to its already rich meaning.

Layla holds the #105 spot among US pet names, with nearly 970 companions sharing it. The name suits companions with dark, lustrous coats particularly well — the color imagery of the name and the companion reinforcing each other beautifully. But Layla works equally for any companion with a certain mysterious quality, those whose personality has depth and allure that reveals itself gradually. The name has been rising in human naming for years and its pet naming popularity follows naturally.