Leah is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word "lhavah," which means "weary" or "exhausted." In the Bible, Leah was one of the two wives of Jacob and the mother of seven of his sons. She is described as having weak eyes, hence her name being translated to mean "weary-eyed."
Despite its origins, Leah has become a popular choice for baby girls in recent years. It has gained popularity due to its unique sound and spelling, as well as its association with the strong-willed character of Leah from the Bible.
In terms of pronunciation, Leah is typically pronounced /liːə/. It consists of two syllables, with emphasis placed on the first syllable "Lee." The name can also be spelled in various ways, such as Leia or Layla, but the most common spelling remains Leah.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Leah in the United States from 1962 to 2022. Over this period, there were a total of 467 babies named Leah.
The name Leah gained popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s, reaching its peak in 1985 with 18 births. This trend continued throughout most of the 1980s, with the number of births ranging from 9 to 24 each year.
After the mid-1990s, there was a decline in the popularity of the name Leah, with fewer than 10 births per year between 1995 and 2003. However, there has been a resurgence in recent years, with the number of births with the name Leah increasing from 8 in 2014 to 10 in 2020.
These statistics demonstrate how the popularity of names can fluctuate over time, reflecting cultural trends and personal preferences among parents. Despite its decline in popularity during certain periods, the name Leah has remained a consistent choice for parents over several decades.