Fun Facts About the Name Lea
- More than 34 thousand babies named Lea: U.S. records list 34,461 babies given the name Lea from 1880 through 2025. Even 620 boys received the name Lea - about 1 boy for every 55 girls.
What Does the Name Lea Mean?
Lea is the form of the Hebrew name לֵאָה (Le'a) used in German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Finnish, and several other European languages; English Bibles spell the same name Leah. Its meaning is uncertain. The derivation cited most often connects the Hebrew name to the root לאה (la'ah), "to be weary," so that the name is glossed as "weary." Another explanation relates it to Akkadian littu, "cow," a sense that would match the pastoral pairing in Genesis, where the name of Jacob's other wife, Rachel, means "ewe." A few reference works instead give "gazelle." None of these derivations is settled, and the literal sense of the name remains open.
Lea Name History & Origins
The earliest known use of the name is in the Hebrew Bible, where לֵאָה is the first wife of Jacob and the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah (Genesis 29 - 30). The same chapter describes her as having weak eyes. The Greek Septuagint gives the name as Λεία and the Latin Vulgate as Lia, and these forms carried it into Christian Europe.
Because the name appears in the Bible, it was used by Jews and later by Christians, and it is the usual spelling in German-speaking lands, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and Finland; French uses Léa, while Italian and Spanish have Lea or Lía. In English the customary spelling is Leah, with Lea as a less frequent variant.
A separate thread in the name's history is Saint Lea of Rome, a wealthy widow of the fourth century who became a nun and was described in a letter by Jerome; she is remembered in the church calendar.
The given name is distinct in origin from the English word lea, meaning a meadow or open field, which comes from Old English lēah, and from the English surname Lea, which is formed from place names containing that word.
How Popular is the Name Lea?
Lea recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1970. Its best rank was #397 in 1970.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #848 | 321 | 0.0200% |
| 2024 | #834 | 324 | 0.0201% |
| 2023 | #802 | 349 | 0.0218% |
| 2022 | #784 | 362 | 0.0221% |
| 2021 | #758 | 377 | 0.0230% |
| 2020 | #752 | 362 | 0.0224% |
| 2019 | #727 | 389 | 0.0232% |
| 2018 | #710 | 410 | 0.0241% |
| 2017 | #810 | 337 | 0.0195% |
| 2016 | #690 | 422 | 0.0238% |
| 2015 | #739 | 382 | 0.0214% |
| 2014 | #682 | 416 | 0.0233% |
| 2013 | #599 | 473 | 0.0270% |
| 2012 | #610 | 470 | 0.0267% |
| 2011 | #556 | 527 | 0.0300% |
| 2010 | #569 | 514 | 0.0289% |
| 2009 | #675 | 431 | 0.0235% |
| 2008 | #643 | 479 | 0.0253% |
| 2007 | #680 | 432 | 0.0225% |
| 2006 | #608 | 481 | 0.0253% |
| 2005 | #602 | 473 | 0.0256% |
| 2004 | #616 | 446 | 0.0243% |
| 2003 | #669 | 396 | 0.0217% |
| 2002 | #665 | 382 | 0.0213% |
| 2001 | #685 | 363 | 0.0202% |
| 2000 | #663 | 367 | 0.0202% |
| 1999 | #643 | 365 | 0.0206% |
| 1998 | #637 | 365 | 0.0207% |
| 1997 | #615 | 367 | 0.0211% |
| 1996 | #568 | 409 | 0.0233% |
| 1995 | #649 | 332 | 0.0189% |
| 1994 | #595 | 378 | 0.0212% |
| 1993 | #584 | 402 | 0.0222% |
| 1992 | #631 | 358 | 0.0194% |
| 1991 | #589 | 389 | 0.0207% |
| 1990 | #516 | 465 | 0.0245% |
| 1989 | #565 | 395 | 0.0214% |
| 1988 | #544 | 402 | 0.0226% |
| 1987 | #561 | 357 | 0.0205% |
| 1986 | #570 | 345 | 0.0201% |
| 1985 | #529 | 378 | 0.0220% |
| 1984 | #494 | 404 | 0.0240% |
| 1983 | #537 | 349 | 0.0209% |
| 1982 | #519 | 384 | 0.0227% |
| 1981 | #461 | 466 | 0.0279% |
| 1980 | #457 | 464 | 0.0279% |
| 1979 | #436 | 472 | 0.0294% |
| 1978 | #502 | 385 | 0.0251% |
| 1977 | #481 | 398 | 0.0260% |
| 1976 | #510 | 349 | 0.0238% |
| 1975 | #466 | 403 | 0.0276% |
| 1974 | #431 | 449 | 0.0306% |
| 1973 | #445 | 424 | 0.0291% |
| 1972 | #434 | 445 | 0.0293% |
| 1971 | #400 | 535 | 0.0322% |
| 1970 | #397 | 593 | 0.0339% |
| 1969 | #419 | 527 | 0.0312% |
| 1968 | #428 | 491 | 0.0299% |
| 1967 | #403 | 519 | 0.0314% |
| 1966 | #436 | 465 | 0.0275% |
| 1965 | #455 | 442 | 0.0250% |
| 1964 | #482 | 403 | 0.0213% |
| 1963 | #458 | 450 | 0.0233% |
| 1962 | #471 | 420 | 0.0214% |
| 1961 | #483 | 403 | 0.0200% |
| 1960 | #503 | 373 | 0.0184% |
| 1959 | #475 | 416 | 0.0206% |
| 1958 | #450 | 446 | 0.0222% |
| 1957 | #518 | 342 | 0.0167% |
| 1956 | #478 | 382 | 0.0190% |
| 1955 | #502 | 338 | 0.0173% |
| 1954 | #580 | 243 | 0.0125% |
| 1953 | #644 | 192 | 0.0102% |
| 1952 | #598 | 210 | 0.0113% |
| 1951 | #670 | 171 | 0.0095% |
| 1950 | #704 | 149 | 0.0087% |
| 1949 | #748 | 131 | 0.0077% |
| 1948 | #673 | 153 | 0.0090% |
| 1947 | #679 | 153 | 0.0086% |
| 1946 | #735 | 122 | 0.0078% |
| 1945 | #770 | 95 | 0.0073% |
| 1944 | #840 | 83 | 0.0063% |
| 1943 | #803 | 92 | 0.0066% |
| 1942 | #775 | 96 | 0.0071% |
| 1941 | #715 | 97 | 0.0080% |
| 1940 | #813 | 77 | 0.0067% |
| 1939 | #871 | 65 | 0.0059% |
| 1938 | #836 | 72 | 0.0065% |
| 1937 | #777 | 78 | 0.0073% |
| 1936 | #891 | 59 | 0.0057% |
| 1935 | #878 | 62 | 0.0059% |
| 1934 | #806 | 70 | 0.0067% |
| 1933 | #831 | 65 | 0.0064% |
| 1932 | #974 | 53 | 0.0050% |
| 1931 | #808 | 71 | 0.0067% |
| 1930 | #813 | 76 | 0.0068% |
| 1929 | #926 | 60 | 0.0054% |
| 1928 | #849 | 73 | 0.0063% |
| 1927 | #900 | 69 | 0.0058% |
| 1926 | #916 | 67 | 0.0057% |
| 1925 | #970 | 59 | 0.0048% |
| 1924 | #981 | 61 | 0.0049% |
| 1923 | #904 | 66 | 0.0055% |
| 1922 | #806 | 82 | 0.0068% |
| 1921 | #931 | 64 | 0.0052% |
| 1920 | #925 | 62 | 0.0052% |
| 1919 | #808 | 76 | 0.0067% |
| 1918 | #740 | 93 | 0.0080% |
| 1917 | #851 | 65 | 0.0060% |
| 1916 | #768 | 80 | 0.0077% |
| 1915 | #861 | 58 | 0.0059% |
| 1914 | #773 | 56 | 0.0074% |
| 1913 | #807 | 43 | 0.0069% |
| 1912 | #752 | 45 | 0.0081% |
| 1911 | #599 | 51 | 0.0122% |
| 1910 | #904 | 23 | 0.0058% |
| 1909 | #782 | 27 | 0.0078% |
| 1908 | #659 | 35 | 0.0105% |
| 1907 | #755 | 25 | 0.0078% |
| 1906 | #751 | 24 | 0.0081% |
| 1905 | #770 | 23 | 0.0079% |
| 1904 | #951 | 15 | 0.0054% |
| 1903 | #882 | 16 | 0.0061% |
| 1902 | #680 | 25 | 0.0095% |
| 1901 | #870 | 15 | 0.0063% |
| 1900 | #665 | 29 | 0.0097% |
| 1899 | #743 | 19 | 0.0082% |
| 1898 | #591 | 30 | 0.0116% |
| 1897 | #849 | 15 | 0.0064% |
| 1896 | #660 | 23 | 0.0097% |
| 1895 | #1,022 | 11 | 0.0047% |
| 1894 | #564 | 27 | 0.0121% |
| 1893 | #674 | 19 | 0.0089% |
| 1892 | #816 | 14 | 0.0066% |
| 1891 | #711 | 15 | 0.0081% |
| 1890 | #777 | 13 | 0.0068% |
| 1889 | #993 | 8 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #622 | 17 | 0.0095% |
| 1887 | #825 | 9 | 0.0062% |
| 1886 | #949 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1885 | #549 | 16 | 0.0120% |
| 1884 | #551 | 15 | 0.0116% |
| 1883 | #572 | 12 | 0.0107% |
| 1882 | #857 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1881 | #716 | 7 | 0.0076% |
| 1880 | #709 | 7 | 0.0077% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | #8,683 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1988 | #6,176 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #7,141 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #6,920 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #4,737 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #5,359 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #6,863 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #5,777 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #4,835 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #4,592 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #3,463 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #5,341 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #4,078 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #4,206 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #3,952 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #3,424 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #3,748 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #2,495 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,518 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #3,854 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #3,879 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #4,366 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #2,937 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #3,799 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #2,889 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #4,159 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1953 | #3,634 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #2,795 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #2,966 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,689 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #2,914 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #3,966 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #2,999 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #3,056 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #2,887 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #2,038 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #2,621 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #2,420 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1940 | #3,313 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #3,355 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1936 | #2,544 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1935 | #3,464 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1934 | #2,342 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #1,967 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1932 | #2,988 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1931 | #1,893 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1930 | #2,538 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1929 | #2,266 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #2,965 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #2,472 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1926 | #1,687 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1925 | #1,717 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1924 | #2,417 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1923 | #1,910 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1922 | #2,725 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1921 | #2,720 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1920 | #2,536 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1919 | #2,106 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1918 | #1,798 | 19 | 0.0019% |
| 1917 | #3,074 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1916 | #2,102 | 14 | 0.0016% |
| 1915 | #4,138 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1914 | #3,104 | 6 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #1,748 | 11 | 0.0021% |
| 1912 | #2,745 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1909 | #1,592 | 5 | 0.0030% |
| 1900 | #1,009 | 8 | 0.0053% |
| 1899 | #1,143 | 5 | 0.0047% |
| 1895 | #939 | 7 | 0.0060% |
| 1894 | #1,177 | 5 | 0.0043% |
| 1890 | #1,090 | 5 | 0.0045% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Lea Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Lea's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Lea's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.