Lige
A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 1,280 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
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Lige is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a short form of Elijah or Elisha, from the Hebrew Eliyahu meaning 'my God is Yahweh' — one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament.
Lige was used as a familiar short form primarily in the American South and rural communities during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when biblical names were popular and informal shortenings created distinct given names. It carries a compact, rural American character with genuine biblical roots.
EtymologyShow more
Lige first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1880. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its Hebrew classification suggests a path from hebrew linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lige has 96+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 21 | — |
| 1970s | 21 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 40 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 82 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 107 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 130 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 188 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 215 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 126 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 159 | — |
| 1880s | 175 | — |
The Story of Lige
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1915, Lige is a name steeped in history. Boys named Lige are most likely born between 1905 and 1925.
How rare is Lige?
With 1,280 total births on record, Lige remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1910s with 215 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lige by the numbers
- Would fill 27 school buses
- Meeting one Lige per day would take 3.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(96 years, 1880–2006)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 6 | #11494 |
| 2004 | 5 | #12466 |
| 2002 | 5 | #11766 |
| 1986 | 6 | #6402 |
| 1983 | 5 | #6890 |
| 1982 | 5 | #6959 |
| 1981 | 5 | #6878 |
| 1975 | 5 | #5965 |
| 1974 | 6 | #5001 |
| 1971 | 10 | #3281 |
| 1969 | 5 | #4768 |
| 1965 | 6 | #3760 |
| 1964 | 6 | #3867 |
| 1963 | 9 | #2974 |
| 1962 | 7 | #3509 |
| 1960 | 7 | #3526 |
| 1959 | 9 | #2959 |
| 1958 | 6 | #3764 |
| 1957 | 5 | #4315 |
| 1956 | 7 | #3395 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lige a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lige most popular?
How popular is the name Lige?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2006