LayerMask.NameToLayer

public static int NameToLayer (string layerName);

Description

Given a layer name, returns the layer index as defined by either a Builtin or a User Layer in the Tags and Layers manager.

using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class ExampleClass : MonoBehaviour {
    void Example() {
        Debug.Log(LayerMask.NameToLayer("TransparentFX"));
    }
}