Leland
Boy name · #494 in 2025 · Uniqueness 56/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Leland scores 56 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 Leland is most common
Geography matters for names, and Leland is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Lelands were MI (50), CA (42), TX (36), IN (28), OH (28). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 56/100 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.