Baby Name Popularity Profile

Lea

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Lea.

✦ Weary, lioness, or meadow 🌍 Hebrew, Latin, German biblical nature
National Rank (2025) #848
All-Time Peak Rank #397 Achieved 1970
Total U.S. Births 33,848 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.0% Boy / 100.0% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1960s 593 births in 1970
💡 The Lea Vibe: Considered a Declining Classic. A previously dominant name currently experiencing a prolonged generational cooling period.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Weary, lioness, or meadow
Language Origin Hebrew, Latin, German
Origin Type multiple
Lea has multiple independent origins: from Hebrew Leah meaning 'weary', from Latin 'leo' meaning 'lioness', and as a short form of German names containing 'lea' meaning 'meadow'.
Common Nicknames
Lee
Alternative Spellings
Leah Lia
Pronunciation: LEE-uh, LAY-uh
Themes & Categories
biblical nature
Etymology confidence: Medium · Under review

📖 The Story Behind Lea

According to SSA data, Lea achieved its highest historical rank of #397 in 1970. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1970 with 593 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 16.0%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Lea across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -16.0% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 593 births in 1970
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 23 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 104
1890s: 186
1900s: 234
1910s: 590
1920s: 663
1930s: 671
1940s: 1,099
1950s: 2,889
1960s: 4,493
1970s: 4,453
1980s: 3,944
1990s: 3,831
2000s: 4,250
2010s: 4,341
2020s: 2,100

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Lea
Letter Count 3 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 0.2% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 0.2% of SSA names. Starts with L, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Lea.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Hawaii
Top States Hawaii, California, Florida, New York, New Jersey
States with Data 47
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Hawaii Unranked 130 1976 Insufficient historical volume
California #651 4,190 2010 32.4% Decline
Florida #704 1,316 2011 4.0% Decline
New York #435 2,923 2011 Stable
New Jersey #552 1,040 1999 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #829 917 2010 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #992 433 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #982 415 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma Unranked 460 1959 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #812 2,499 2011 7.5% Decline
Connecticut Unranked 346 1998 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #1161 500 1969 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri Unranked 636 1958 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #767 673 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas Unranked 298 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #930 421 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #589 1,360 1969 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #743 1,420 1994 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin Unranked 507 1968 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #914 951 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #847 1,117 1958 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa Unranked 319 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky Unranked 410 1970 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #1234 501 1970 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #807 522 1969 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota Unranked 413 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana Unranked 398 1970 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #1223 628 1970 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #1296 571 1970 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas Unranked 211 1971 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 170 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada Unranked 58 2010 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon Unranked 157 1970 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama Unranked 264 1965 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska Unranked 100 1956 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 56 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #594 127 1974 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #859 116 1970 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 22 1919 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 22 1968 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 15 1953 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 13 1966 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 15 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Utah Unranked 28 2021 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 10 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 10 1916 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 7 1952 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
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👧 Sister Suggestions
Tara Kelly Jamie Darcy Janelle Sun Toi Toy Kea Dawn

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