Fun Facts About the Name Leah
- Back among the favorites: Leah returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 26 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 256 thousand babies named Leah: U.S. records list 256,914 babies given the name Leah from 1880 through 2025. Even 467 boys received the name Leah - about 1 boy for every 549 girls.
What Does the Name Leah Mean?
Leah is a Hebrew name whose customary meaning is "weary." It is usually traced to the Hebrew root lā'āh (לָאָה), "to be weary or faint." The biblical text never explains the name directly, so this sense is inferred from the root rather than stated. A second, less widely accepted proposal connects Leah with an Akkadian word for a cow or wild ox, a pairing that would match her sister Rachel, whose name means "ewe"; this remains a hypothesis rather than a settled derivation. The name is unrelated to the English names Lee and Leigh, which come from an Old English word for a meadow or clearing.
Leah Name History & Origins
Leah belongs to the family stories of the Book of Genesis. She is the daughter of Laban, the elder sister of Rachel, and the first wife of Jacob, and she becomes the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, as well as of Dinah. Genesis describes her eyes as "weak" or "tender" and tells how Jacob, who had worked to marry Rachel, was tricked into marrying Leah first. Later Jewish commentary supplied a symbolic explanation for those eyes - that she had wept because she feared being married to Esau - a story that is interpretation, not etymology.
As a biblical matriarch, Leah has long been used as a name in Jewish families. It also entered Christian use in Europe, where Old Testament names became more common after the Reformation. Islamic tradition likewise honors her as a wife of Jacob, though the Quran does not name her. In English the standard spelling is Leah, while Lea and Lia appear as variant spellings in various languages; Lea also exists as an independent name with its own history.
How Popular is the Name Leah?
Leah has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 42 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 2000 to 2025.
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 | #58 | 3,880 | 0.2414% |
| 2024 | #53 | 3,969 | 0.2460% |
| 2023 | #53 | 3,973 | 0.2479% |
| 2022 | #52 | 4,193 | 0.2559% |
| 2021 | #46 | 4,474 | 0.2729% |
| 2020 | #45 | 4,527 | 0.2802% |
| 2019 | #43 | 4,780 | 0.2849% |
| 2018 | #41 | 5,036 | 0.2962% |
| 2017 | #40 | 5,200 | 0.3013% |
| 2016 | #37 | 5,433 | 0.3067% |
| 2015 | #36 | 5,633 | 0.3156% |
| 2014 | #35 | 5,609 | 0.3141% |
| 2013 | #32 | 5,617 | 0.3202% |
| 2012 | #33 | 5,779 | 0.3282% |
| 2011 | #29 | 6,400 | 0.3639% |
| 2010 | #24 | 6,543 | 0.3681% |
| 2009 | #29 | 6,790 | 0.3697% |
| 2008 | #40 | 5,634 | 0.2980% |
| 2007 | #67 | 4,555 | 0.2369% |
| 2006 | #68 | 4,657 | 0.2450% |
| 2005 | #68 | 4,600 | 0.2490% |
| 2004 | #64 | 4,744 | 0.2584% |
| 2003 | #81 | 3,925 | 0.2148% |
| 2002 | #87 | 3,604 | 0.2006% |
| 2001 | #87 | 3,521 | 0.1956% |
| 2000 | #97 | 3,399 | 0.1872% |
| 1999 | #103 | 3,288 | 0.1854% |
| 1998 | #106 | 3,218 | 0.1821% |
| 1997 | #104 | 3,203 | 0.1840% |
| 1996 | #98 | 3,327 | 0.1898% |
| 1995 | #103 | 3,274 | 0.1862% |
| 1994 | #101 | 3,205 | 0.1795% |
| 1993 | #92 | 3,414 | 0.1887% |
| 1992 | #96 | 3,431 | 0.1861% |
| 1991 | #91 | 3,816 | 0.2035% |
| 1990 | #82 | 3,924 | 0.2067% |
| 1989 | #83 | 3,784 | 0.2053% |
| 1988 | #82 | 3,558 | 0.1998% |
| 1987 | #82 | 3,454 | 0.1987% |
| 1986 | #78 | 3,457 | 0.2015% |
| 1985 | #78 | 3,572 | 0.2076% |
| 1984 | #83 | 3,536 | 0.2100% |
| 1983 | #82 | 3,484 | 0.2085% |
| 1982 | #79 | 3,762 | 0.2222% |
| 1981 | #81 | 3,808 | 0.2283% |
| 1980 | #84 | 3,642 | 0.2193% |
| 1979 | #98 | 3,075 | 0.1916% |
| 1978 | #108 | 2,710 | 0.1769% |
| 1977 | #112 | 2,586 | 0.1687% |
| 1976 | #119 | 2,270 | 0.1549% |
| 1975 | #132 | 2,118 | 0.1453% |
| 1974 | #149 | 1,844 | 0.1257% |
| 1973 | #175 | 1,587 | 0.1088% |
| 1972 | #179 | 1,594 | 0.1048% |
| 1971 | #184 | 1,690 | 0.1016% |
| 1970 | #192 | 1,672 | 0.0956% |
| 1969 | #210 | 1,490 | 0.0883% |
| 1968 | #195 | 1,616 | 0.0985% |
| 1967 | #199 | 1,598 | 0.0968% |
| 1966 | #220 | 1,378 | 0.0814% |
| 1965 | #228 | 1,385 | 0.0785% |
| 1964 | #230 | 1,422 | 0.0750% |
| 1963 | #244 | 1,299 | 0.0674% |
| 1962 | #295 | 976 | 0.0496% |
| 1961 | #332 | 806 | 0.0399% |
| 1960 | #342 | 772 | 0.0382% |
| 1959 | #352 | 738 | 0.0365% |
| 1958 | #357 | 667 | 0.0332% |
| 1957 | #335 | 740 | 0.0362% |
| 1956 | #339 | 668 | 0.0333% |
| 1955 | #356 | 592 | 0.0303% |
| 1954 | #368 | 558 | 0.0287% |
| 1953 | #347 | 580 | 0.0308% |
| 1952 | #374 | 496 | 0.0267% |
| 1951 | #370 | 479 | 0.0266% |
| 1950 | #385 | 442 | 0.0258% |
| 1949 | #369 | 451 | 0.0264% |
| 1948 | #403 | 387 | 0.0228% |
| 1947 | #410 | 388 | 0.0219% |
| 1946 | #431 | 324 | 0.0206% |
| 1945 | #421 | 285 | 0.0218% |
| 1944 | #414 | 306 | 0.0231% |
| 1943 | #419 | 308 | 0.0221% |
| 1942 | #393 | 330 | 0.0244% |
| 1941 | #352 | 351 | 0.0291% |
| 1940 | #334 | 365 | 0.0319% |
| 1939 | #323 | 373 | 0.0340% |
| 1938 | #324 | 376 | 0.0341% |
| 1937 | #307 | 408 | 0.0383% |
| 1936 | #335 | 346 | 0.0333% |
| 1935 | #334 | 362 | 0.0345% |
| 1934 | #315 | 395 | 0.0378% |
| 1933 | #337 | 338 | 0.0335% |
| 1932 | #377 | 296 | 0.0277% |
| 1931 | #360 | 319 | 0.0300% |
| 1930 | #376 | 326 | 0.0290% |
| 1929 | #381 | 309 | 0.0277% |
| 1928 | #332 | 405 | 0.0351% |
| 1927 | #370 | 345 | 0.0289% |
| 1926 | #319 | 436 | 0.0368% |
| 1925 | #316 | 444 | 0.0365% |
| 1924 | #296 | 505 | 0.0404% |
| 1923 | #294 | 487 | 0.0404% |
| 1922 | #293 | 485 | 0.0404% |
| 1921 | #292 | 514 | 0.0417% |
| 1920 | #286 | 523 | 0.0436% |
| 1919 | #278 | 527 | 0.0466% |
| 1918 | #259 | 588 | 0.0508% |
| 1917 | #269 | 534 | 0.0494% |
| 1916 | #266 | 514 | 0.0492% |
| 1915 | #252 | 552 | 0.0561% |
| 1914 | #246 | 457 | 0.0600% |
| 1913 | #248 | 370 | 0.0592% |
| 1912 | #257 | 302 | 0.0541% |
| 1911 | #271 | 202 | 0.0483% |
| 1910 | #269 | 207 | 0.0522% |
| 1909 | #273 | 176 | 0.0507% |
| 1908 | #249 | 194 | 0.0580% |
| 1907 | #234 | 200 | 0.0628% |
| 1906 | #255 | 164 | 0.0555% |
| 1905 | #248 | 168 | 0.0576% |
| 1904 | #259 | 149 | 0.0541% |
| 1903 | #226 | 175 | 0.0668% |
| 1902 | #231 | 171 | 0.0648% |
| 1901 | #211 | 184 | 0.0769% |
| 1900 | #252 | 166 | 0.0554% |
| 1899 | #223 | 149 | 0.0639% |
| 1898 | #211 | 185 | 0.0715% |
| 1897 | #226 | 147 | 0.0628% |
| 1896 | #211 | 169 | 0.0710% |
| 1895 | #192 | 203 | 0.0869% |
| 1894 | #194 | 182 | 0.0816% |
| 1893 | #199 | 167 | 0.0784% |
| 1892 | #196 | 163 | 0.0768% |
| 1891 | #190 | 144 | 0.0776% |
| 1890 | #184 | 162 | 0.0851% |
| 1889 | #198 | 134 | 0.0751% |
| 1888 | #210 | 118 | 0.0661% |
| 1887 | #231 | 83 | 0.0569% |
| 1886 | #220 | 83 | 0.0574% |
| 1885 | #214 | 85 | 0.0639% |
| 1884 | #212 | 79 | 0.0612% |
| 1883 | #223 | 65 | 0.0579% |
| 1882 | #230 | 56 | 0.0519% |
| 1881 | #210 | 52 | 0.0566% |
| 1880 | #210 | 54 | 0.0593% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #11,708 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #7,851 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #8,603 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #8,555 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #8,547 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #11,580 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #9,278 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #13,267 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #13,408 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #7,849 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #9,324 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #8,725 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #7,510 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #9,235 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #5,761 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #5,393 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #12,003 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #11,750 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #8,852 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #9,820 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #10,620 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #9,716 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #9,584 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #7,113 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #6,282 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #5,634 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #2,662 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1988 | #3,810 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #3,878 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #3,364 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #2,782 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1984 | #4,409 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #2,628 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1982 | #2,480 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1981 | #3,753 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #2,909 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1979 | #3,968 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #4,396 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #3,745 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #4,241 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #3,814 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #4,991 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #4,249 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #3,546 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #3,423 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #4,207 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #4,478 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #2,892 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #4,378 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1962 | #3,502 | 7 | 0.0003% |
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.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Leah
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Leah 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.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Leah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Leah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.