Baby Name: Layla

This is the name of the central character in poems by the 7th-century Arab poet known as Qays. The poem, "Leyli and Majnun," later inspired British rock guitarist, Eric Clapton, to write one of rock music's famous love songs, "Layla," in 1970. The name debuted on the popularity chart in 1972, the same year the song first landed a spot on the music charts and then again 20 years later when the song was a success again. Boxing champion Laila Ali uses a form of the name.