Lais as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Lais

What is the meaning of the name Lais ?

The baby name Lais is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Portuguese: lah-EES (approx.; IPA: /laˈis/),English approximations: LAY-iss or LAH-iss.

Lais is Brazilian, Greek in Origin.

Lais has dual roots. In Greek (Λαΐς), it names two famed 4th‑century BCE courtesans - Lais of Corinth and Lais of Hyccara - whose beauty was celebrated by classical writers. The etymology is uncertain, sometimes linked to laos “people,” but no consensus meaning is accepted. As a given name it later resurfaced in Europe, especially in France as Laïs and in Portugal/Brazil as Laís, where it has enjoyed modern popularity as a feminine choice.

Separately, Lais is also a transliteration of Arabic Laith/Layth, meaning “lion,” used predominantly as a masculine name across the Arab world and South Asia. Variants and related forms include Laís (Portuguese), Laïs (French), Laith/Layth (Arabic), and spelled Lais without diacritics in international contexts. Usage today is culturally dependent - typically feminine in Lusophone and Francophone countries, masculine in Arabic-influenced communities - giving Lais a truly cross‑cultural profile.