Leif
Leif is a boy's name of Norse origin.
Meaning
Heir, descendant, or beloved.
Origin and history
Leif is a masculine name of Old Norse origin, traditionally meaning 'heir', 'descendant', or 'beloved'. Historically famous due to the Norse explorer Leif Erikson, the name has maintained steady, moderate usage in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
9,997 babies in the United States have been named Leif since 1880. It ranks #1196 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #844.
States where it is most popular
- CA (21 %)
- WA (11.1 %)
- MN (10.3 %)
- NY (7.7 %)
- TX (6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 127 |
| 1920-1930 | 126 |
| 1930-1940 | 111 |
| 1940-1950 | 196 |
| 1950-1960 | 442 |
| 1960-1970 | 886 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,158 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,231 |
| 1990-2000 | 878 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,329 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,971 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,542 |
Famous people named Leif
- Leif Erikson: Explorer
- Leif Garrett: Singer, Actor
Fun facts
- Leif Erikson is widely believed to be the first European to have set foot on continental North America.
- While commonly pronounced like the English word 'leaf' in North America, the traditional Scandinavian pronunciation sounds more like 'life'.