How Many People Are Named Leigh?
Complete statistics for the name Leigh: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Leigh is a soft, elegant name with English roots meaning 'meadow' or 'clearing', and it's predominantly given to girls. About 40,108 people named Leigh are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 8,228 Americans. Its peak came in 1969, and it carries that quietly classic feel of a name that never chased trends.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 5 is traditionally associated with freedom, curiosity, and a love of adventure. People with a 5 energy are seen as adaptable and drawn to change, always seeking new experiences and resisting anything that feels too routine.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 54All 45,319 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1969Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Leigh Through the Generations
Leigh had its moment in the late 1960s, peaking in 1969 with 1,640 births in a single year. That era shaped who carries the name today. A full 64% of all living Leighs are between 30 and 60 years old, which is a striking concentration, and only 5% are under 30. That tells you parents largely moved on from the name after its heyday. The average age of 54 confirms it, this is a name that belongs mostly to one generation. With 45,319 all-time US births and 40,108 estimated still living, the gap is relatively small, suggesting most people who were ever named Leigh are still with us. The trend is now stable rather than declining, meaning a small but steady trickle of parents still choose it, keeping it alive without any real revival.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Leigh's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Leigh
How Many People Have the Name Leigh?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 10,042 people in the United States currently share the name Leigh. That works out to roughly 1 in every 33,006 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Leigh a Common or Rare Name?
Leigh is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Leigh Mean?
Leigh means "meadow or woodland clearing" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Leigh in SSA data, approximately 8% are male and 92% are female.
When Was Leigh Most Popular?
The name Leigh reached peak popularity in 1969, with 1,640 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Leigh?
Approximately 10,042 people named Leigh live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 10,042. That works out to roughly 1 in 33,006 Americans.
Is Leigh a rare name?
Leigh is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 33,006 Americans has this name.
What does the name Leigh mean?
Leigh means "meadow or woodland clearing" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Leigh more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 8% of people named Leigh are male and 92% are female.
When was Leigh most popular?
Leigh peaked in 1969 with 1,640 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.