Leeli, Leelia

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Estonian
Meaning: debated
(LAY-lee); (LAY-leeah)

The names could possibly be an Estonian form of the Arabic Leila meaning “night”, the Latin cognomen Laelia which is of uncertain meaning or it could be from the Estonian word leelis meaning “alkali; lye.” Leelia caught on after the publication of the Estonian novel Our Daily Bread (1964) by Raimond Kaugver. Other forms include Leelo and Leela. Its designated name-day is October 2.