Leigh
From the nominative case of Old English lēah (“wood, meadow”), 'dweller by the wood or clearing'.
Every Leigh since 1882 — 45,349 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Leigh
Leigh is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #4,504 in 2025 with 31 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1882, 45,349 American babies have been named Leigh — about 89% girls and 11% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1969, when 1,641 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Leigh stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Leigh year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | #4,504 | — | — |
| 2024 | 46 | #3,436 | — | — |
| 2023 | 38 | #3,953 | 5 | #13,375 |
| 2022 | 56 | #2,979 | 8 | #9,498 |
| 2021 | 44 | #3,527 | — | — |
| 2020 | 38 | #3,814 | 9 | #8,467 |
| 2019 | 59 | #2,841 | — | — |
| 2018 | 46 | #3,424 | 8 | #9,311 |
| 2017 | 59 | #2,861 | — | — |
| 2016 | 64 | #2,723 | 6 | #11,588 |
| 2015 | 47 | #3,416 | 7 | #10,198 |
| 2014 | 56 | #3,033 | 8 | #9,285 |
| 2013 | 49 | #3,296 | — | — |
| 2012 | 39 | #3,962 | 6 | #11,674 |
| 2011 | 44 | #3,582 | — | — |
| 2010 | 50 | #3,285 | 8 | #9,331 |
| 2009 | 61 | #2,873 | 5 | #13,673 |
| 2008 | 57 | #3,044 | 5 | #13,764 |
| 2007 | 45 | #3,634 | 7 | #10,442 |
| 2006 | 63 | #2,799 | — | — |
| 2005 | 63 | #2,694 | 6 | #10,930 |
| 2004 | 74 | #2,334 | 7 | #9,543 |
| 2003 | 83 | #2,115 | 6 | #10,342 |
| 2002 | 83 | #2,071 | 8 | #8,142 |
| 2001 | 116 | #1,599 | 11 | #6,272 |
| 2000 | 123 | #1,499 | 14 | #5,210 |
| 1995 | 230 | #852 | 16 | #3,980 |
| 1990 | 523 | #468 | 28 | #2,467 |
| 1985 | 773 | #312 | 58 | #1,265 |
| 1980 | 1,176 | #218 | 63 | #1,151 |
| 1975 | 1,064 | #228 | 57 | #1,122 |
| 1970 | 1,483 | #213 | 87 | #864 |
| 1965 | 868 | #308 | 60 | #950 |
| 1960 | 770 | #345 | 80 | #847 |
| 1955 | 460 | #412 | 126 | #655 |
| 1950 | 166 | #662 | 80 | #769 |
| 1945 | 74 | #876 | 78 | #688 |
| 1940 | 28 | #1,453 | 65 | #769 |
| 1935 | 9 | #3,051 | 45 | #948 |
| 1930 | 13 | #2,490 | 35 | #1,207 |
| 1925 | 9 | #3,527 | 37 | #1,176 |
| 1920 | 9 | #3,479 | 33 | #1,266 |
| 1915 | 6 | #4,037 | 31 | #1,174 |
| 1910 | — | — | 6 | #1,516 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | 8 | #838 |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | 7 | #808 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Leigh
- Leigh Brackett Writer · 1915–1978
- Leigh Hunt Writer · 1784–1859
- Leigh Whannell Film director · b. 1977
- Leigh Nash Singer · b. 1976
- Leigh Howard Cyclist · b. 1989
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leigh mean?
From the nominative case of Old English lēah (“wood, meadow”), 'dweller by the wood or clearing'.
How popular is the name Leigh in 2025?
Leigh ranked #4,504 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 31 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Leigh?
45,349 babies have been named Leigh in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Leigh most popular?
Leigh peaked in 1969, when 1,641 newborns received the name.
Is Leigh a boy or girl name?
Leigh is used for both: about 89% of babies named Leigh have been girls and 11% boys.
Is the name Leigh rising or falling?
Leigh is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Leigh?
Well-known people named Leigh include Leigh Brackett (writer), Leigh Hunt (writer), Leigh Whannell (film director).