Leia Girl

Popularity: #281 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LAY-uh //ˈleɪ.ə//

Origin: Hebrew; Latin

Meaning: Hebrew: 'weary'; Latin: 'delicate'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Leia has its roots in the Hebrew name Leah, which is derived from the Hebrew word 'le'ah' meaning 'weary' or 'tired.' Leah appears in the Hebrew Bible as the first wife of Jacob and the mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel, making her a significant biblical figure. The name Leah was later adopted into Greek as 'Lea' and subsequently into Latin, maintaining its form and meaning through these transitions.

The name eventually made its way into Old French and then into English, where it has been used since the Middle Ages, although it remained relatively uncommon until the 20th century. The name Leia gained notable recognition in the 20th century, particularly due to the character Princess Leia Organa from the Star Wars franchise, created by George Lucas in the late 1970s.

This character, portrayed by Carrie Fisher, became an iconic figure in popular culture, representing strength, resilience, and leadership. The influence of this character has contributed to the name's association with bravery and independence, resonating with audiences across generations.

In addition to its biblical roots, the name Leia has also been linked to various cultural interpretations, often symbolizing loyalty and familial bonds, reflecting the character's relationships within the Star Wars narrative. The name's phonetic appeal and its connection to a beloved character have helped it endure in cultural memory, allowing it to be embraced in various forms across different cultures.

The diminutive form 'Lea' has also been used historically, providing an alternative that retains the essence of the original name.

Famous people named Leia

In this section, you will find notable people named Leia. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Leia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Leia who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Leia Organa is a fictional character best known for the Star Wars franchise.

Leia Bronski is a singer and songwriter best known for her work in the indie music scene.

Fictional characters named Leia

The following list of fictional characters named Leia is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Leia Organa is a fictional character from the Star Wars franchise. She is a leader of the Rebel Alliance and a key figure in the fight against the Galactic Empire.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Leia, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LilaMayaNinaSophieClaraZoe

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Leia. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

LenaMiraTaliaNinaRheaKiraCleaMaya

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Leia was first seen in the United States in 1949.

Leia has ranked as high as #472 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Leia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Leia is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Leia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Leia.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 1,033 1,033
2024 1,099 1,099
2023 1,424 1,424
2022 1,216 1,216
2021 1,078 1,078
2020 1,088 1,088
2019 958 958
2018 1,120 1,120
2017 1,162 1,162
2016 1,016 1,016
2015 766 766
2014 611 611
2013 509 509
2012 422 422
2011 351 351
2010 323 323
2009 342 342
2008 293 293
2007 288 288
2006 272 272
2005 206 206
2004 160 160
2003 142 142
2002 152 152
2001 125 125
2000 123 123
1999 103 103
1998 94 94
1997 106 106
1996 65 65
1995 87 87
1994 48 48
1993 65 65
1992 67 67
1991 60 60
1990 69 69
1989 63 63
1988 66 66
1987 73 73
1986 70 70
1985 86 86
1984 94 94
1983 135 135
1982 99 99
1981 126 126
1980 162 162
1979 118 118
1978 156 156
1977 98 98
1976 21 21
1975 20 20
1974 21 21
1973 14 14
1972 18 18
1971 29 29
1970 23 23
1969 19 19
1968 23 23
1967 35 35
1966 26 26
1965 31 31
1964 21 21
1963 23 23
1962 20 20
1961 17 17
1960 5 5
1955 6 6
1954 5 5
1950 5 5
1949 7 7

Top States for Leia (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 212
20%
TX 157
15%
FL 102
10%
NY 63
6%
AZ 42
4%
IL 38
4%
OH 32
3%
NC 29
3%
VA 28
3%
GA 26
2%
PA 26
2%
MI 25
2%
NJ 22
2%
NM 21
2%
HI 19
2%
WA 19
2%
MD 17
2%
MA 16
1%
MO 15
1%
OR 15
1%
IN 13
1%
CO 13
1%
TN 12
1%
KY 12
1%
NV 11
1%
WI 9
1%
KS 9
1%
UT 8
1%
MN 8
1%
OK 8
1%
LA 7
1%
AL 7
1%
IA 7
1%
CT 7
1%
AR 6
1%
SC 6
1%