Leif
Boy name · #917 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
In 2025, 257 baby boys were named Leif, placing it at #917 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1061, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,004 boys born in 2025 was named Leif.
Babies named Leif per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 113-year story
Leif first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 7 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2022, with 290 babies and a rank of #841. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Leif against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Leif in class?
Leif scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Leif is most common
Geography matters for names, and Leif is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Leifs were TX (22), FL (21), CA (17), WA (17), UT (13). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Leif
Statistically, parents drawn to Leif tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Saif, Lucien, Levy, Lucio, and Lionel.
SaifLucienLevyLucioLionelLouieLuciusOren
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Leif | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 257 | #917 |
| 2024 | 250 | #927 |
| 2023 | 279 | #860 |
| 2022 | 290 | #841 |
| 2021 | 221 | #991 |
| 2020 | 245 | #910 |
| 2019 | 205 | #1013 |
| 2018 | 207 | #998 |
| 2017 | 218 | #955 |
| 2016 | 214 | #963 |
| 2015 | 187 | #1061 |
| 2014 | 205 | #1004 |
| 2013 | 195 | #1005 |
| 2012 | 179 | #1060 |
| 2011 | 185 | #1028 |
| 2010 | 176 | #1092 |
| 2009 | 175 | #1063 |
| 2008 | 140 | #1240 |
| 2007 | 128 | #1327 |
| 2006 | 135 | #1239 |
| 2005 | 152 | #1081 |
| 2004 | 114 | #1304 |
| 2003 | 138 | #1111 |
| 2002 | 101 | #1315 |
| 2001 | 120 | #1151 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leif a popular boy name?
Leif ranked #917 among boys in 2025 with 257 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1061.
When was the name Leif most popular?
Leif peaked in 2022, when 290 American boys received the name (ranked #841 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Leif?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,004 newborn American boys was named Leif. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.