Leeland
Leeland was the 1740th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 94 babies. Its best year was 2012, when it ranked 1047th with 183 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 410 places. More babies were named Leeland in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Leland) Origin uncertain · Irish, English
- Rank in 2025
- #1,740 boys, down 360 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 94boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2012183 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,309babies recorded
What does the name Leeland mean?
Leeland is a spelling of Leland, pronounced the same way, so it shares Leland's meaning and origin.
Leland is a surname used as a first name. Wiktionary derives it from a shortening of McLeland or McClellan, Irish Mac Giolla Fhaoláin, "son of the servant of Saint Faolán", Faolán meaning "little wolf". The surname also matches the English place name Leyland in Lancashire, though that origin is not covered by the sources consulted. Leland Stanford, founder of Stanford University, is a famous bearer.
Mac Giolla Fhaoláin (Irish, “son of the servant of Faolán”)Faolán (Irish, “little wolf”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Wiktionary gives an Irish origin; an English place-name origin is also possible but not covered here.
Related names: Lee, Leyland, Lelan.
See also: Irish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Leland', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Leland', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Leeland popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 21 since 2010.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,740 | 94 |
| 2020 | #1,380 | 127 |
| 2010 | #1,111 | 172 |
| 2000 | #9,822 | 6 |
| 1990 | #3,544 | 17 |
| 1980 | #4,354 | 9 |
| 1970 | #4,526 | 6 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | #2,691 | 9 |
| 1940 | #3,315 | 6 |
| 1930 | #3,459 | 7 |
| 1920 | #2,537 | 12 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Leeland, counting every spelling?
Leeland is a spelling of Leland, a name family that ranked #446 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,740 for Leeland on its own. Together these spellings went to 706 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leland | 612 | #494 | 3,056 |
| Leeland | 94 | #1,740 | 551 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Leeland?
94 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Leeland (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Leeland born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 89 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Leeland.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Leeland?
About 3,000 people born in the US named Leeland are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 7 and 17. That makes Leeland mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Leeland by state
How common Leeland was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Kentucky (3.1×), Tennessee (3.0×), Indiana (2.4×), Michigan (2.2×), Pennsylvania (1.6×). In 35 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Leeland: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Leeland, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Leeland
What does Leeland mean?
The origin of Leland is uncertain: Wiktionary gives an Irish origin; an English place-name origin is also possible but not covered here.
How popular is the name Leeland?
Leeland was the 1740th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 94 babies. Its best year was 2012, when it ranked 1047th with 183 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 410 places. More babies were named Leeland in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Leeland a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Leeland in the US.
Where is Leeland most popular?
In 2021–2025, Leeland was most common in Kentucky (0.20 per 1,000 boys), followed by Tennessee and West Virginia.