Leah
Leah is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Weary, delicate, or wild cow.
Origin and history
Leah is a classic biblical name derived from the Hebrew word for weary, delicate, or wild cow. In the Old Testament, Leah is the first wife of Jacob and the mother of six sons who became leaders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. It has been a consistently popular name in the United States, remaining a steady top 100 choice for female newborns in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
256,488 babies in the United States have been named Leah since 1880. It ranks #161 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #50.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.2 %)
- NY (9.6 %)
- TX (7.9 %)
- PA (5.2 %)
- OH (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 809 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,671 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,747 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,253 |
| 1920-1930 | 4,453 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,539 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,495 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,960 |
| 1960-1970 | 12,743 |
| 1970-1980 | 21,145 |
| 1980-1990 | 36,056 |
| 1990-2000 | 34,099 |
| 2000-2010 | 45,430 |
| 2010-2019 | 56,044 |
| 2020-2029 | 25,044 |
Famous people named Leah
- Leah Remini: Actress, Author
- Leah Pipes: Actress
- Leah Williamson: Athlete, Soccer Player
Fun facts
- In the Old Testament, Leah is the mother of six of Jacob's sons, whose descendants formed six of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
- Leah has remained a consistently favored choice in the United States, staying within the top 50 female names during recent years.