Lea
A female given name from Hebrew, form of Leah.
Every Lea since 1880 — 34,468 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Lea
Lea is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #848 in 2025 with 321 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 34,468 American babies have been named Lea. Its peak came in 1970, when 600 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Lea stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Lea year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 321 | #848 | — | — |
| 2024 | 327 | #833 | — | — |
| 2023 | 349 | #804 | — | — |
| 2022 | 362 | #786 | — | — |
| 2021 | 378 | #754 | — | — |
| 2020 | 363 | #751 | — | — |
| 2019 | 389 | #727 | — | — |
| 2018 | 410 | #710 | — | — |
| 2017 | 337 | #810 | — | — |
| 2016 | 422 | #690 | — | — |
| 2015 | 382 | #739 | — | — |
| 2014 | 416 | #682 | — | — |
| 2013 | 473 | #599 | — | — |
| 2012 | 470 | #610 | — | — |
| 2011 | 528 | #556 | — | — |
| 2010 | 514 | #569 | — | — |
| 2009 | 431 | #675 | — | — |
| 2008 | 479 | #643 | — | — |
| 2007 | 432 | #680 | — | — |
| 2006 | 481 | #608 | — | — |
| 2005 | 473 | #602 | — | — |
| 2004 | 446 | #616 | — | — |
| 2003 | 396 | #669 | — | — |
| 2002 | 382 | #665 | — | — |
| 2001 | 363 | #685 | — | — |
| 2000 | 367 | #663 | — | — |
| 1995 | 332 | #649 | — | — |
| 1990 | 466 | #516 | — | — |
| 1985 | 378 | #528 | 5 | #7,140 |
| 1980 | 464 | #457 | — | — |
| 1975 | 403 | #466 | 7 | #4,593 |
| 1970 | 593 | #397 | 7 | #4,077 |
| 1965 | 442 | #455 | 6 | #3,748 |
| 1960 | 373 | #503 | 5 | #4,366 |
| 1955 | 338 | #502 | 5 | #4,158 |
| 1950 | 149 | #704 | 9 | #2,689 |
| 1945 | 95 | #770 | 7 | #2,887 |
| 1940 | 77 | #813 | 6 | #3,313 |
| 1935 | 62 | #878 | 6 | #3,464 |
| 1930 | 76 | #813 | 11 | #2,538 |
| 1925 | 59 | #970 | 21 | #1,717 |
| 1920 | 62 | #925 | 12 | #2,536 |
| 1915 | 58 | #861 | 5 | #4,138 |
| 1910 | 23 | #904 | — | — |
| 1905 | 23 | #770 | — | — |
| 1900 | 29 | #665 | 8 | #1,009 |
| 1895 | 11 | #1,022 | 7 | #939 |
| 1890 | 13 | #777 | 5 | #1,090 |
| 1885 | 16 | #549 | — | — |
| 1880 | 7 | #709 | — | — |
Famous people named Lea
- Lea Massari Actor · b. 1933
- Lea Thompson Actor · b. 1961
- Lea Michele Actor · b. 1986
- Lea Padovani Actor · 1920–1991
- Lea Ahlborn Politician · 1826–1897
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lea mean?
A female given name from Hebrew, form of Leah.
How popular is the name Lea in 2025?
Lea ranked #848 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 321 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Lea?
34,468 babies have been named Lea in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Lea most popular?
Lea peaked in 1970, when 600 newborns received the name.
Is Lea a boy or girl name?
Lea is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 98% of babies with the name.
Is the name Lea rising or falling?
Lea is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Lea?
Well-known people named Lea include Lea Massari (actor), Lea Thompson (actor), Lea Michele (actor).