The first name Leigh
A unisex name from English meaning “wood”, “meadow”.
Pronounced /liː/ 1 syllable Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Leigh means “wood”, “meadow” in English.
From the nominative case of Old English lēah (“wood, meadow”), 'dweller by the wood or clearing'.
More names that mean forest.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Leigh last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 1996, with 125 births (#296).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Leigh with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Leigh at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 31 girls born in the United States were named Leigh, the 4,504th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1969, when 1,564 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
Famous people named Leigh
46 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Rachael Leigh CookAmerican actress and model, born 1979
- Leigh BrackettAmerican novelist and screenwriter (1915–1978)
- Leigh-Allyn BakerAmerican actress, born 1972
- Leigh WhannellAustralian filmmaker and actor, born 1977
- Leigh FrancisBritish actor and host, born 1973
- Trafford Leigh-MalloryBritish military officer during World Wars I and II (1892–1944)
- Leigh Taylor-YoungAmerican actress, born 1945
- Leigh HarlineAmerican film composer and songwriter (1907–1969)
- Leigh NashAmerican singer, born 1976
- Leigh HoffmanAustralian track cyclist, born 2000
- Leigh Van ValenAmerican biologist (1935–2010)
- Leigh McCloskeyAmerican actor, artist and writer, born 1955
More English unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Leigh mean?
- Leigh means “wood”, “meadow” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Leigh?
- From the nominative case of Old English lēah (“wood, meadow”), 'dweller by the wood or clearing'.
- How popular is the name Leigh?
- In 2024, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Leigh, ranking 5,119th. Its peak was 1996, with 125 births.
- Is Leigh a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 45,349 US babies named Leigh since 1880, 89% were girls and 11% boys.
- When was Leigh most popular?
- 1969 in the United States, when 1,564 babies were named Leigh, its highest rank at 201st.
- How do you pronounce Leigh?
- Leigh is /liː/, one syllable.
- What are other spellings of Leigh?
- Lee.
- Is Leigh also a surname?
- Yes. Leigh is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.