Lea Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Lea originates from Hebrew, meaning 'weary' or 'delicate'. It evolved from the Hebrew 'Le'ah' through Latin to its current form in English. Leah, the biblical figure, adds depth to its meaning and historical significance. The name is seen as classic and feminine, with notable bearers contributing to its modern appeal.
The name Lea is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Lea has been stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Lea' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2274th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2677th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3220th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4983rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9103rd out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 837th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 840th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 550th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 455th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 566th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 656th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 739th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Lea' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Lea"
Pronunciation
/liːə/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Lea is derived from the Hebrew name 'Le'ah', which means 'weary' or 'delicate'. It is often associated with the biblical figure Leah, who was the first wife of Jacob.
Meaning
weary, delicate
Language Evolution
Le'ah (Hebrew), Lea (Latin), Leah (English)
Biblical Background
Lea is a prominent biblical name, belonging to Leah, the mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, particularly due to its biblical associations and usage in literature.
Variants & Derivatives
Leah, Lea, Leah
Modern Popularity & Image
Lea is perceived as a classic and elegant name. It maintains a presence in contemporary culture, often associated with kindness and femininity.
Famous People
Lea Michele - American actress and singer, Lea Salonga - Filipino singer and actress, Lea Thompson - American actress
Explore More Lea Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Lea"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Lea"
"Lea" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2274th of 7545 | 207 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2677th of 6773 | 149 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3220th of 7552 | 125 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4983rd of 10718 | 67 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9103rd of 16616 | 42 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 837th of 9107 | 1,325 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 840th of 9204 | 1,344 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 550th of 12526 | 5,497 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 455th of 19264 | 7,361 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 566th of 27321 | 6,213 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 656th of 35406 | 6,858 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 739th of 30306 | 4,603 |
Regional Popularity of "Lea" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Lea" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
68.86% 975th/1416 |
40.68% 561st/1379 |
60.02% 1420th/2366 |
73.47% 839th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
59.12% 914th/1546 |
42.80% 666th/1556 |
61.03% 1436th/2353 |
45.31% 701st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
20.97% 467th/2227 |
25.27% 614th/2430 |
19.80% 565th/2853 |
20.97% 582nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
14.37% 422nd/2937 |
14.04% 489th/3483 |
12.45% 438th/3518 |
11.10% 449th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
14.74% 543rd/3685 |
10.17% 455th/4475 |
12.84% 667th/5194 |
9.91% 626th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
15.41% 706th/4582 |
8.31% 429th/5164 |
10.38% 759th/7313 |
9.22% 688th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
25.40% 1012th/3984 |
10.83% 486th/4487 |
13.21% 901st/6822 |
10.83% 680th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Lea"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Lea" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.