Girls · #58 in 2025
Leah: Meaning, Origin & Popularity
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- Traditionally weary; etymology uncertain
- Pronunciation
- LEE-uh in common English usage
- Nickname options
- Lee
Origin and meaning
Leah is a biblical Hebrew name traditionally connected with weariness, though other origins have been proposed. In Genesis, Leah is one of Jacob's wives. The uncertainty matters: the traditional gloss should not be presented as the only settled explanation.
U.S. popularity
Leah ranked #58 for girls in the United States in 2025, with 3,880 girls given this spelling. Its highest recorded U.S. rank was #24, reached in 2010. Historical coverage: 1880–2025. Peak refers to rank, not the largest number of births.
Source: Social Security Administration; historical peaks calculated from its national name files. Rankings count each spelling separately within the listed sex.
The Hello Baby Names take
Leah feels gentle, spare, and quietly enduring. The two vowels create a soft rhythm without much ornament. It is especially appealing for parents who want a familiar biblical name that is shorter and less formal than many alternatives.
Things to consider
Leah and Lia can sound alike in English, with both in use audibly Leah might feel more popular than it's rank would suggest.
If you love Leah, consider…
- Hannah: Adds more consonant structure and similar warmth.
- Sarah: Offers another simple biblical classic.
- Mia: Keeps the compact, open-vowel sound.
- Naomi: Expands the rhythm into three syllables.
- Lydia: Adds a firmer middle consonant.
- Lily: Brings a floral alternative with a similar opening.
- Nora: Offers a more grounded two-syllable choice.
- Anna: Keeps the gentle, familiar simplicity.