Leigh Unisex

Popularity: #917 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: lee /liː/

Origin: English; Irish

Meaning: English: meadow; Irish: descendant of the warrior

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Leigh has its roots in Old English, derived from the word "leah," which means "clearing" or "meadow." This term was used to describe a piece of land that was cleared for agricultural purposes, often associated with pastoral settings. The transition into Middle English saw the spelling evolve into forms such as "Legh" or "Leigh," which retained the original meaning while also becoming a surname in various regions of England.

The name was introduced into the English lexicon as a given name, particularly for females, during the 19th century, although its usage can be traced back earlier in the context of place names and family names. Historically, the name Leigh has been associated with several notable figures and locations.

One significant reference is to Leigh, a village in Lancashire, England, which has been documented since the 13th century. Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is mentioned in relation to land ownership and settlement patterns.

The name has also been borne by various saints and ecclesiastical figures throughout the medieval period, contributing to its cultural significance. Culturally, Leigh has resonated with themes of nature and tranquility, reflecting its etymological roots in the landscape.

The name evokes images of open fields and serene meadows, which have been celebrated in English literature and poetry. This connection to the natural world has helped maintain its appeal over centuries.

Variants and diminutives of Leigh, such as Lee or Leila, have also emerged, showcasing the name's adaptability and enduring presence in various forms. Overall, Leigh encapsulates a rich historical and cultural tapestry, rooted in the English landscape and language.

Famous people named Leigh

In this section, you will find notable people named Leigh. 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 Leigh who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Leigh 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.

Leigh Whannell is a screenwriter and director best known for Saw, Insidious, and Upgrade.

Leigh-Anne Thompson is a former professional tennis player best known for her performances in the 1980s and 1990s.

Leigh Nash is a singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of Sixpence None the Richer and for the song Kiss Me.

Leigh Bardugo is an author best known for the Grishaverse series, including Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows.

Fictional characters named Leigh

The following list of fictional characters named Leigh 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.

Leigh is a fictional character from the novel and film The Last of Us Part II. She is a member of the WLF and plays a significant role in the story's exploration of revenge and loss.

Sibling suggestions

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

ClaireGraceKateMeganSophieTess

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Leigh. 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.

LeiaLilaLenaLeilaLaceyLindsayLydia

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Leigh was first seen in the United States in 1882.

Leigh has ranked as high as #365 nationally, which occurred in 1969, and has been most popular in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and California.

In the past 5 years the name Leigh has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Leigh 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 Leigh 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 Leigh.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 31 0 31
2024 46 0 46
2023 43 5 38
2022 64 8 56
2021 44 0 44
2020 47 9 38
2019 59 0 59
2018 54 8 46
2017 59 0 59
2016 70 6 64
2015 54 7 47
2014 64 8 56
2013 49 0 49
2012 45 6 39
2011 44 0 44
2010 58 8 50
2009 66 5 61
2008 62 5 57
2007 52 7 45
2006 63 0 63
2005 69 6 63
2004 81 7 74
2003 89 6 83
2002 91 8 83
2001 127 11 116
2000 137 14 123
1999 160 11 149
1998 156 9 147
1997 205 14 191
1996 230 11 219
1995 246 16 230
1994 301 14 287
1993 384 12 372
1992 446 23 423
1991 478 33 445
1990 551 28 523
1989 643 40 603
1988 757 43 714
1987 724 56 668
1986 769 51 718
1985 831 58 773
1984 947 64 883
1983 921 58 863
1982 1,038 79 959
1981 1,179 79 1,100
1980 1,239 63 1,176
1979 1,193 66 1,127
1978 971 55 916
1977 1,016 62 954
1976 984 54 930
1975 1,121 57 1,064
1974 1,262 37 1,225
1973 1,126 48 1,078
1972 1,270 60 1,210
1971 1,498 74 1,424
1970 1,570 87 1,483
1969 1,641 77 1,564
1968 1,507 82 1,425
1967 1,430 88 1,342
1966 1,043 71 972
1965 928 60 868
1964 1,126 76 1,050
1963 1,056 76 980
1962 968 77 891
1961 924 81 843
1960 850 80 770
1959 751 80 671
1958 711 89 622
1957 701 84 617
1956 709 98 611
1955 586 126 460
1954 417 98 319
1953 345 104 241
1952 291 101 190
1951 267 83 184
1950 246 80 166
1949 267 104 163
1948 215 93 122
1947 219 105 114
1946 209 85 124
1945 152 78 74
1944 108 63 45
1943 112 77 35
1942 120 69 51
1941 95 60 35
1940 93 65 28
1939 60 42 18
1938 76 54 22
1937 69 57 12
1936 63 54 9
1935 54 45 9
1934 46 37 9
1933 30 22 8
1932 39 29 10
1931 52 35 17
1930 48 35 13
1929 40 31 9
1928 55 49 6
1927 51 41 10
1926 49 36 13
1925 46 37 9
1924 55 42 13
1923 53 41 12
1922 38 29 9
1921 43 32 11
1920 42 33 9
1919 48 41 7
1918 38 31 7
1917 42 32 10
1916 26 21 5
1915 37 31 6
1914 20 15 5
1913 17 17 0
1912 27 18 9
1911 9 9 0
1910 6 6 0
1908 5 5 0
1907 6 6 0
1906 5 5 0
1899 5 5 0
1897 8 8 0
1896 7 7 0
1895 8 8 0
1894 8 8 0
1892 9 9 0
1891 5 5 0
1888 7 7 0
1887 6 6 0
1886 8 8 0
1885 7 7 0
1882 5 5 0

Top States for Leigh (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
TX 10
100%