Girl name
Laika name meaning
“Barking dog, barker”
Laika means “barking dog” or “barker.” It comes from Russian layka, connected with layatʹ, meaning to bark, and represents the Cyrillic spelling Лайка in Latin letters. Used for girls in Türkiye, the name recalls Laika, the dog remembered in the history of spaceflight.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- European languages
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity
- #1,940
What does Laika mean?
Barking dog, barker
In Turkish: Havlayan köpek
Laika derives from a Russian dog designation and also occurs as a feminine given name in Türkiye. Its strongest historical association is the dog sent into space in 1957. Consequently, the name evokes both animal imagery and the history of early space exploration.
Origin of the name Laika
From Russian layka, a designation for a dog associated with layatʹ, ‘to bark.’ Laika is an international Latin-script rendering of Russian Лайка.
| Linguistic origin | European languages |
|---|---|
| Is Laika in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | L · La |
How to pronounce Laika
| Syllables | 3 · 5 letters · 5-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /laika/ |
Is Laika a girl’s name?
Yes, Laika is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Laika does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Laika
Names with related meanings
Famous people named Laika
- Laika Karabey · b. 1909
FAQ about the name Laika
What is the meaning of Laika?
Laika means “Barking dog, barker”. From Russian layka, a designation for a dog associated with layatʹ, ‘to bark.’ Laika is an international Latin-script rendering of Russian Лайка.
Is Laika a girl’s name?
Yes, Laika is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Laika in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Laika nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Laika?
Laika is of European languages origin.
How many syllables does Laika have?
Laika has 3 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Laika?
Laika does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Famous people named Laika?
Notable people named Laika include Laika Karabey.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm12932 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake