How Many People Are Named Lief?

Complete statistics for the name Lief: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Lief
Very Rare
Old Norse

Lief means 'dear' or 'beloved', making it a warm and affectionate choice. Only 254 people named Lief live in the US today, which means just 1 in 1,299,419 Americans share this rare name. Interestingly, Lief saw its peak popularity in 1999 with 12 births.

~332
Living in US
1 in 998,341
Americans
1999
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Dear, beloved
🌐
Origin
Old Norse
🌟
Lucky Day
Wednesday
💎
Lucky Stone
Aquamarine
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Affectionate Caring Thoughtful
5
Life Path Number

Life-path number 5 represents adaptability and freedom.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

1,125
Worldwide Bearers
#237,583
Global Rank
🇺🇸 United States
433
🇧🇪 Belgium
233
🇵🇭 Philippines
152
🇮🇩 Indonesia
92
🇨🇦 Canada
53
🇳🇱 Netherlands
44
🇿🇦 South Africa
30
🇩🇰 Denmark
20
🇬🇧 England
14
🇨🇳 China
8

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
254 (100%)
♀ Female
0 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 41
85
Would be under 30 (30%)
151
Would be 30–60 (54%)
43
Would be over 60 (15%)

All 279 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: 1999

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
72
Classic Feel
26
Modern Appeal
84
International
84

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Lief Through the Generations

Lief has been a name on the rise, with its usage peaking in 1999 at 12 births. Over the years, it has maintained a steady presence, with 279 total births recorded since its inception. Today, the name Lief is predominantly held by individuals aged between 30 and 60, accounting for 55% of the total, while 30% are under 30 and 15% are over 60. This distribution suggests a modern appeal, attracting parents who appreciate its unique charm and meaningful heritage.

✨ Similar Names to Lief

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Lief's Old Norse roots

📄 About the Name Lief

How Many People Have the Name Lief?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 332 people in the United States currently share the name Lief. That works out to roughly 1 in every 998,341 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Lief a Common or Rare Name?

Lief is classified as Very 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 Lief Mean?

Lief means "dear, beloved" and comes from Old Norse origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Lief in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Lief Most Popular?

The name Lief reached peak popularity in 1999, with 12 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

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 Lief?

Approximately 332 people named Lief live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 332. That works out to roughly 1 in 998,341 Americans.

Is Lief a rare name?

Lief is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 998,341 Americans has this name.

What does the name Lief mean?

Lief means "dear, beloved" and comes from Old Norse origins.

Is Lief more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Lief are male and 0% are female.

When was Lief most popular?

Lief peaked in 1999 with 12 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

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.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US332
All-Time Births332
1 in X1 in 998,341
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age41
Peak Year1999
World Rank#237,583
Male %100%
Female %0%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.