Leman
A boy's name of Old English origin with 625 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Leman is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, derived from leofman, meaning 'sweetheart' or 'beloved person' — an affectionate term from medieval English that was used for both men and women. It later became a surname.
Leman as a given name reflects the 19th-century American practice of using family surnames as first names, particularly in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. It carries the quiet dignity of a name rooted in the oldest layers of the English language.
EtymologyShow more
Leman is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Old English naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Leman creates its characteristic clean, contemporary quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Leman has 64+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1913.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 21 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 48 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 44 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 61 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 84 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 115 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 145 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 96 | — |
The Story of Leman
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1937, Leman is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Leman are most likely born between 1927 and 1947.
How rare is Leman?
With 625 total births on record, Leman remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1913, peaked in the 1920s with 145 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Leman by the numbers
- Would fill 13 school buses
- Meeting one Leman per day would take 1.7 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(64 years, 1913–1997)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 5 | #10184 |
| 1990 | 6 | #7713 |
| 1988 | 5 | #8016 |
| 1987 | 6 | #6612 |
| 1986 | 5 | #7371 |
| 1980 | 5 | #6842 |
| 1979 | 7 | #5150 |
| 1978 | 6 | #5489 |
| 1977 | 5 | #6428 |
| 1976 | 5 | #6115 |
| 1974 | 8 | #4040 |
| 1972 | 12 | #2933 |
| 1970 | 5 | #5140 |
| 1968 | 6 | #3953 |
| 1967 | 9 | #2893 |
| 1965 | 8 | #3132 |
| 1964 | 6 | #3856 |
| 1963 | 6 | #3858 |
| 1961 | 9 | #3009 |
| 1959 | 5 | #4320 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leman a boy's or girl's name?
When was Leman most popular?
How popular is the name Leman?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1913–1997