Leland
Boy name · #494 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Leland? In official American birth records, Leland has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Leland ranks #494 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 612 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #378, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,941 boys born in 2025 was named Leland.
Babies named Leland per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Leland first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 1,029 boys were named Leland — good for #315 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 Leland against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Leland in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Leland is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Leland is most common
Geography matters for names, and Leland is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Leland is most common in MI (1.2 per 1,000), IN (0.9 per 1,000), MN (0.9 per 1,000), SC (0.8 per 1,000), AL (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Leland is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Leland
Statistically, parents drawn to Leland tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ryland, Leeland, Rocco, Mohamed, and Layton.
RylandLeelandRoccoMohamedLaytonGradyCaidenReed
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Leland | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 612 | #494 |
| 2024 | 546 | #543 |
| 2023 | 568 | #520 |
| 2022 | 609 | #500 |
| 2021 | 721 | #431 |
| 2020 | 635 | #468 |
| 2019 | 743 | #415 |
| 2018 | 747 | #420 |
| 2017 | 817 | #389 |
| 2016 | 758 | #417 |
| 2015 | 857 | #378 |
| 2014 | 759 | #407 |
| 2013 | 774 | #386 |
| 2012 | 897 | #343 |
| 2011 | 950 | #328 |
| 2010 | 964 | #325 |
| 2009 | 895 | #349 |
| 2008 | 726 | #405 |
| 2007 | 1,029 | #315 |
| 2006 | 903 | #343 |
| 2005 | 371 | #608 |
| 2004 | 110 | #1335 |
| 2003 | 129 | #1159 |
| 2002 | 134 | #1094 |
| 2001 | 107 | #1242 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Leland?
In official American birth records, the name Leland first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 9 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Leland a popular boy name?
Leland ranked #494 among boys in 2025 with 612 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #378.
When was the name Leland most popular?
Leland peaked in 2007, when 1,029 American boys received the name (ranked #315 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Leland?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,941 newborn American boys was named Leland. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.