View Message

[Opinions] Luila (Lou-eye-luh)
Does anyone know anything about this name? It is the name of my Great Aunt who passed away in a tornado in my area in 1970. I never met her. I like the sound of it and like the idea of honoring her. I've only seen and heard of Luella online. From Behind the Name I've looked up Lou/Lu meaning "warrior" and Ila meaning "earth, speech." But wondering if it has it's own meaning and origins? Thanks!
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

Ila "eye luh" (and Ilah) was a slightly popular name, probably around when your ggma was born. I think it's probably based on Lila from Delilah and Ella, which were also used around then, and just fit in well with other popular names - Irene, Ida, Iva. I know an Ila who would be pushing 100 about now (not sure if she still survives). Lou was fashionable too - along with Louise, Luella etc. Luila is probably just an invention based on combining those sounds. I like it! Although the pronunciation isn't intuitive, anymore.
vote up1
My great-grandmother was named Annie Louella. People talk a lot about variant spellings being a modern idea, but from what I've seen it's really not. It could very well be yet another variant spelling.Apparently Luila is a town in Bas-Congo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but I'm guessing that's probably unrelated.Ancestry.com lists some historical documents for the name Luila, but doesn't offer a meaning or etymology.Google keeps trying to "correct" to Lulia, Lula, or Laila. :/Sorry if none of that is much help!
vote up1
Thank you both for your input!
vote up1