NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Lael

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "dedicated to God".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 78 boys.

Lael is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Lael popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1819, with 16 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 16 births.

This profile covers 92 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2008 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Lael is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 92 living people in the UK are called Lael. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lael ranked #1819 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 16 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 16 girls were registered as Lael.
  • Lael is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 92 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lael as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 54.1% of Lael registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1819

2024

Births in 2024

16

Latest year

Peak year

2024

16 births

Estimated living

92

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Lael

In England and Wales birth records, Lael has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 45.9% of registrations are for boys and 54.1% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

46% boys
54% girls
Boys78 (45.9%)Girls92 (54.1%)

Lael registered for boys

  • Ranked #729 in 2024
  • 48 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (48 births)

Lael registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,819 in 2024
  • 16 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (16 births)

Meaning

What does Lael mean?

The given name Lael originates from the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew word "la'el," which means "belonging to God" or "devoted to God." The name is believed to have been in use since ancient times, particularly among Jewish communities.

Lael is a unisex name, meaning it can be used for both males and females. In the Old Testament of the Bible, there are no direct references to individuals named Lael. However, the name's roots can be traced back to the Hebrew language, which was used extensively in ancient religious texts and scriptures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lael can be found in the late 19th century. Lael Byrne was an American actress born in 1884 who appeared in several silent films during the early 20th century. She was active in the entertainment industry from the late 1900s until the 1920s.

Another notable individual with the name Lael was Lael Woodbury, an American educator and author born in 1889. She wrote several books on education and child development, including "The New Education" and "The Relation of Certain Factors of the Home Environment to the Intelligence of Children."

In the world of literature, Lael Wertenbaker was an American historian and author born in 1899. He wrote several books on the history of the American Revolution and the early years of the United States, including "The Old South: The Founding of American Civilization" and "The Shaping of Colonial Virginia."

Lael Anson Callaway was an American businessman and philanthropist born in 1894. He founded the Callaway Gardens, a renowned resort and gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, which opened in 1952. The gardens are known for their beautiful landscapes, outdoor activities, and educational programs.

In the field of music, Lael Neale was an American folk singer and songwriter born in 1947. She gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s for her unique blend of folk and contemporary styles. Some of her notable albums include "Acquaintance" and "Life Goes On."

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Lael. While not an extremely common name, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, with each person leaving their mark in their respective fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lael over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Lael in England and Wales, from 2008 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lael, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 16 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
016324864200820162024

Decades

Lael by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lael was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2534 55 5
2010s #4276 34 7
2000s #5545 3 1

Related

Names similar to Lael

FAQ

Lael: questions and answers

How popular is the name Lael in the UK right now?

In 2024, Lael was ranked #1819 for girls in England and Wales, with 16 births registered.

When was Lael most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 16 babies registered as Lael in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lael?

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "dedicated to God".

How many people are called Lael in the UK?

A total of 92 babies have been registered as Lael across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.