Lea

A familiar Hebrew name with steady appeal.

Girl's name| Also boysHebrewDeclining Also a pet name
#834 32in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from Hebrew, form of Leah.

Lea is a girl's and boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a form of Leah, meaning "weary" or possibly "delicate" or "gazelle" in ancient Hebrew. In the Book of Genesis, Leah was the first wife of Jacob and mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Lea is the continental European form favored in France, Germany, and Scandinavia, where it has ranked highly for decades. In the United States, it offers parents a streamlined alternative to Leah — short, clean, and effortlessly elegant.

Compare Lea with another name

Popularity Over Time

Lea was #616 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #834, but its charm endures.

014829744559318801900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Lea
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,774
2010s4,340
2000s4,250
1990s3,830
1980s3,944
1970s4,453
1960s4,493
1950s2,889
1940s1,099
1930s671
1920s663
1910s590
1900s234
1890s186
1880s104

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Lea
YearBirthsRank
2024324#834
2023349#802
2022362#784
2021377#758
2020362#752
2019389#727
2018410#710
2017337#810
2016422#690
2015382#739
2014416#682
2013473#599
2012470#610
2011527#556
2010514#569
2009431#675
2008479#643
2007432#680
2006481#608
2005473#602

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Lea as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Lea has also been given to 620 boys in the U.S. since 1890.

Unranked
Current rank
620
Total births
1925
Peak year
Compare Lea as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Lea be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Lea is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #834. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Lea has two lives

Lea, the baby name
#834girls
33,520 babies
Currently viewing
Lea, the pet name
#1501pet name
70 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology