Leah
Say it: LEE-a/ˈliːə/
Girl4 letters2 syllables
#55
in Ireland (2025)
88
babies in 2025
#9
best rank (2004)
8,426
babies since 1966
Down 21
10-year rank change
Leah through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 88 | #55 |
| 2024 | 102 | #53 |
| 2023 | 119 | #45 |
| 2022 | 109 | #50 |
| 2021 | 148 | #37 |
| 2020 | 117 | #46 |
| 2019 | 150 | #38 |
| 2018 | 158 | #37 |
| 2017 | 192 | #29 |
| 2016 | 191 | #30 |
| 2015 | 187 | #34 |
| 2014 | 207 | #27 |
| 2013 | 232 | #25 |
| 2012 | 287 | #24 |
| 2011 | 350 | #15 |
| 2010 | 369 | #16 |
| 2009 | 358 | #15 |
| 2008 | 402 | #13 |
| 2007 | 364 | #16 |
| 2006 | 444 | #9 |
| 2005 | 427 | #9 |
| 2004 | 424 | #9 |
| 2003 | 395 | #10 |
| 2002 | 351 | #15 |
| 2001 | 374 | #12 |
| 2000 | 302 | #14 |
| 1999 | 185 | #27 |
| 1998 | 146 | #27 |
| 1997 | 185 | #33 |
| 1996 | 167 | #38 |
| 1995 | 95 | #57 |
| 1994 | 83 | #66 |
| 1993 | 61 | #94 |
| 1992 | 76 | #84 |
| 1991 | 52 | #114 |
| 1990 | 50 | #116 |
| 1989 | 44 | #123 |
| 1988 | 42 | #132 |
| 1987 | 47 | #129 |
| 1986 | 39 | #145 |
| 1985 | 32 | #170 |
| 1984 | 35 | #168 |
| 1983 | 27 | #193 |
| 1982 | 24 | #216 |
| 1981 | 29 | #199 |
| 1980 | 25 | #211 |
| 1979 | 21 | #227 |
| 1978 | 29 | #195 |
| 1977 | 22 | #215 |
| 1976 | 19 | #229 |
| 1975 | 12 | #274 |
| 1974 | 9 | #300 |
| 1973 | 10 | #305 |
| 1971 | 5 | #383 |
| 1970 | 3 | #447 |
| 1966 | 5 | #310 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Leah mean?
Uncertain, possibly "weary" or "wild cow"
Hebrew, from Le'ah, the name of Jacob's first wife in the Book of Genesis.
Say it right
LEEa
The story of Leah
Leah comes from the Hebrew Le’ah. In the Book of Genesis she is the elder daughter of Laban, the sister of Rachel and the first wife of Jacob. The meaning is not certain. It is often said to be weary or delicate, and some scholars connect it with an old Semitic word for a wild cow.
In Ireland the name reached the CSO list in 1966 and rose strongly in the 1990s. It was number 9 in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and it peaked in 2006 with 444 babies. Northern Ireland followed a similar path, with a best of 10th in 2005.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Leah (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Leah (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Leah | 88 | 8,426 |
In Northern Ireland
#140 in 2025 with 14 babies. Best rank #10 (2005); 2,480 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.