Leith Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LEETH /liːθ/
Origin: Scottish; Gaelic
Meaning: Scottish: from the river; Gaelic: flood
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Leith has its roots in the Scottish Gaelic language, deriving from the word "leith," which means "broad" or "wide." This etymology reflects the geographical features of the River Leith in Scotland, which flows through the city of Edinburgh. The river's name itself is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word "lǫð," meaning "river" or "stream," indicating a blend of linguistic influences in the region.
The transition of the name into English occurred as the Gaelic language interacted with Old Norse and later English, particularly during the Viking Age and the subsequent medieval period in Scotland. Historically, the name Leith is associated with the port town of Leith, which has been a significant maritime hub since at least the 12th century.
The town played a crucial role in Scottish trade and naval history, serving as the main port for Edinburgh. Notably, Leith was mentioned in various historical documents, including the records of the Scottish Parliament in the late 15th century, highlighting its importance in Scottish commerce and governance.
The name also appears in literature and historical texts, contributing to its recognition as a place of significance in Scottish heritage. Culturally, Leith embodies a sense of Scottish identity and connection to the natural landscape, symbolizing the broad waters that have shaped the region's history.
The name has been embraced in various forms, including as a surname and in place names, reflecting its enduring legacy. While diminutive forms are less common, the name's straightforward pronunciation and strong association with the Scottish landscape have contributed to its lasting resonance in cultural memory.
Famous people named Leith
In this section, you will find notable people named Leith. 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 Leith who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Leith 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.
Leith Clark is a fashion stylist best known for working with celebrities and editorial shoots.
Leith McPherson is a writer best known for her contributions to various literary publications and novels.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Leith, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Leith. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Leith was first seen in the United States in 1916.
Leith has ranked as high as #9362 nationally, which occurred in 2018, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Leith has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Leith 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 Leith 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 Leith.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2022 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2020 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2018 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 2017 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2012 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2009 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2005 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 2004 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2003 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2002 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1992 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1991 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1984 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1983 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1982 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1981 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1980 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1979 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1978 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1977 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1976 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1975 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1974 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1973 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| 1972 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1971 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
| 1970 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1969 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1967 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| 1966 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1965 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1964 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1962 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1961 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 1960 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1959 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1958 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1957 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1956 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 1955 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1953 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1951 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1949 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1947 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1943 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1941 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1939 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1935 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1927 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1924 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1922 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1916 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
Top States for Leith
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.
No state data available for this year.