Leighton
Boy name · #1057 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Leighton? In official American birth records, Leighton has been tracked continuously since 1893, giving it 132 years of documented American history.
Leighton is currently the #1057 boy name in the United States — 207 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #864, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,696 boys born in 2025 was named Leighton.
Babies named Leighton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 132-year story
Leighton first appears in the Social Security records in 1893, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2019, when 366 boys were named Leighton — good for #692 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Leighton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Leighton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Leighton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Leighton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Leighton is most common
State-level data for Leighton is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Leighton
Statistically, parents drawn to Leighton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Langston, Layton, Klayton, Hampton, and Houston.
LangstonLaytonKlaytonHamptonHoustonCashtonStrattonMaxton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Leighton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 207 | #1056 |
| 2024 | 213 | #1042 |
| 2023 | 232 | #966 |
| 2022 | 302 | #820 |
| 2021 | 281 | #845 |
| 2020 | 327 | #743 |
| 2019 | 366 | #692 |
| 2018 | 269 | #830 |
| 2017 | 238 | #901 |
| 2016 | 268 | #842 |
| 2015 | 261 | #864 |
| 2014 | 241 | #893 |
| 2013 | 184 | #1043 |
| 2012 | 184 | #1044 |
| 2011 | 218 | #922 |
| 2010 | 217 | #928 |
| 2009 | 175 | #1063 |
| 2008 | 159 | #1142 |
| 2007 | 140 | #1255 |
| 2006 | 146 | #1154 |
| 2005 | 128 | #1233 |
| 2004 | 99 | #1425 |
| 2003 | 118 | #1230 |
| 2002 | 128 | #1124 |
| 2001 | 110 | #1216 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Leighton?
In official American birth records, the name Leighton first appeared in 1893 (over 132 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Leighton a popular boy name?
Leighton ranked #1057 among boys in 2025 with 207 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #864.
When was the name Leighton most popular?
Leighton peaked in 2019, when 366 American boys received the name (ranked #692 that year). Since 2019 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Leighton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,696 newborn American boys was named Leighton. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.