Leif
Leif was the 917th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 257 babies. Its best year was 1979, when it ranked 638th; the most babies were born in 2022 (290). Over the last ten years it has moved up 146 places. More babies were named Leif in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning heir, descendant · Old Norse
Say it LEEF /lif/
- Rank in 2025
- #917 boys, down 3 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 257boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2022290 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,002babies recorded
What does the name Leif mean?
Leif is a Scandinavian name from Old Norse Leifr, a short form of names containing the element leifr 'inheritor'; Wikipedia glosses it 'heir, descendant'. DMNES gives the element as 'relic, souvenir; inheritor' and finds related forms in early medieval records. Wiktionary notes that it has been used in Norway since the Middle Ages, was revived in Denmark in the 19th century, and was first recorded in Sweden in 1852. The Norse explorer Leif Erikson is its best-known bearer.
Leifr (Old Norse, “a man's name, short form of names in -leifr”)leifr (Old Norse, “inheritor”)
How sure is this? Probable.
Pronunciation: In Norway and Sweden it rhymes with 'safe'; most Americans say LEEF.
Related names: Leiv, Lief.
See also: Scandinavian names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Leif' (Norwegian section), Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Leifr' (Old Norse section), Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Leif', DMNES, Durham University
- Wikipedia, 'Leif', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Leif popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5 since 1981.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #917 | 257 |
| 2020 | #914 | 245 |
| 2010 | #1,093 | 176 |
| 2000 | #1,118 | 126 |
| 1990 | #1,169 | 87 |
| 1980 | #664 | 169 |
| 1970 | #654 | 157 |
| 1960 | #864 | 78 |
| 1950 | #1,135 | 40 |
| 1940 | #1,770 | 16 |
| 1930 | #2,706 | 10 |
| 1920 | #4,072 | 6 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Leif, counting every spelling?
Leif is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #883 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #917 for Leif on its own. Together these spellings went to 257 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leif | 257 | #917 | 1,297 |
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 Leif?
257 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Leif (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Leif 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 33 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Leif.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Leif?
About 9,000 people born in the US named Leif are alive today, with a median age of 24; half are between 10 and 46. That makes Leif mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
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.
Leif by state
How common Leif was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Montana (10.2×), Utah (3.9×), Minnesota (3.1×), Washington (2.7×), Oregon (2.5×). In 20 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 Leif: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Leif, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Leif · Sibling names for Leif
Questions about the name Leif
What does Leif mean?
Leif means “heir, descendant” (Old Norse origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Leif?
Leif was the 917th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 257 babies. Its best year was 1979, when it ranked 638th; the most babies were born in 2022 (290). Over the last ten years it has moved up 146 places. More babies were named Leif in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Leif a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Leif in the US.
Where is Leif most popular?
In 2021–2025, Leif was most common in Montana (1.53 per 1,000 boys), followed by Utah and Minnesota.