UK boy's name
Laif
A name of uncertain origin, possibly Scandinavian or German, with potential meanings relating to life or happiness.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Laif is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Laif popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2022 to 2023. 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.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Laif. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Laif ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 3 boys were registered as Laif.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Laif as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2022
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Laif mean?
The name Laif is of Old Norse origin, derived from the word "leif" which means "descendant" or "heir." It first appeared in Scandinavia around the 9th century AD during the Viking Age. The name was popular among the Norsemen and can be found in some of the ancient Norse sagas and legends.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Laif is in the Icelandic Landnámabók, a medieval manuscript that chronicles the settlement of Iceland. The book mentions a Viking explorer named Leif Eriksson, who is believed to have been the first European to set foot on the mainland of North America around the year 1000 AD.
In the 11th century, the name Laif was brought to England by the Normans, who had adopted it from the Vikings. It was later anglicized to various spellings such as Leif, Lief, and Lyfe. One notable historical figure with this name was Leif Ericson (c. 970 - c. 1020), the Norse explorer who is credited with the discovery of Vinland (modern-day Newfoundland, Canada).
Another famous bearer of the name Laif was Leif Larsson (c. 1490 - 1580), a Swedish clergyman who played a significant role in the Reformation in Sweden. He translated the Bible into Swedish and is considered one of the founders of the Lutheran Church in Sweden.
In the 17th century, the name Laif was also found in Germany, where it was spelled as "Leib." One notable German figure with this name was Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646 - 1716), a prominent philosopher, mathematician, and scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of calculus, physics, and metaphysics.
A more recent historical figure with the name Laif was Leif Erikson Høegh (1919 - 1975), a Norwegian shipping magnate and industrialist. He founded the Leif Höegh & Co. shipping company, which became one of the largest shipping companies in the world.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Laif or its variations. While the name may have fallen out of fashion in recent times, it continues to hold a significant place in Norse and Scandinavian history and culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Laif over time
The chart below shows babies named Laif registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2022 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Laif, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Laif by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Laif 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 | #4890 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Laif
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Laif: questions and answers
How popular is the name Laif in the UK right now?
In 2023, Laif was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Laif most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 3 babies registered as Laif in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Laif?
A name of uncertain origin, possibly Scandinavian or German, with potential meanings relating to life or happiness.
How many people are called Laif in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Laif across the 2 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.