NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Le

A unisex Vietnamese given name meaning "gift" or "precious".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 29 boys.

Le is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Le popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4763, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 6 births.

This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1998 to 2016. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 38 living people in the UK are called Le. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Le ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 6 girls were registered as Le.
  • Le is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Le as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 56.7% of Le registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4763

2016

Births in 2016

4

Latest year

Peak year

1998

6 births

Estimated living

38

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Le

In England and Wales birth records, Le has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 43.3% of registrations are for boys and 56.7% 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.

43% boys
57% girls
Boys29 (43.3%)Girls38 (56.7%)

Le registered for boys

  • Ranked #5,119 in 2024
  • 3 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2006 (5 births)

Le registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,763 in 2016
  • 4 girls registered in 2016
  • Peak: 1998 (6 births)

Meaning

What does Le mean?

The name Le has its origins in the Vietnamese language and culture. It is a widely used and popular name in Vietnam, especially as a unisex name. Le is believed to have derived from the Old Vietnamese word "le" meaning "field" or "village." This suggests that the name may have originated from rural farming communities in ancient Vietnam.

In Vietnamese culture, the name Le is often associated with the concept of simplicity, humility, and a connection to nature. It is a name that reflects the country's rich agricultural heritage and the importance of the land to the Vietnamese people.

The name Le can be traced back to ancient Vietnamese texts and historical records. It appears in various literary works, including the famous epic poem "The Tale of Kieu" by Nguyen Du, which dates back to the early 19th century.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Le is Le Loi, a celebrated Vietnamese military leader who played a crucial role in gaining independence from Chinese rule in the 15th century. Le Loi became the first emperor of the Later Le Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1428 to 1789.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Le. One of the most famous is Le Quy Don, a renowned Vietnamese scholar, poet, and philosopher from the 18th century. His works greatly influenced Vietnamese literature and culture.

Another prominent historical figure with the name Le is Le Van Huu, a Vietnamese revolutionary and military strategist who played a significant role in the struggle for independence against French colonial rule in the early 20th century.

In the realm of arts and literature, Le Thi Dieu Thuy, a celebrated Vietnamese poet and writer from the 20th century, is widely recognized for her contributions to modern Vietnamese literature.

Le Duc Tho, a Vietnamese revolutionary and diplomat, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Vietnam War, though he declined the award.

While the name Le is primarily associated with Vietnamese culture, it has also been adopted in other parts of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia and among Vietnamese diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Le over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Le in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Le, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2016, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02579199620102024

Decades

Le by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Le 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
2010s #4801 21 5
2000s #4493 11 3
1990s #2407 6 1

Related

Names similar to Le

FAQ

Le: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Le was ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Le most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 6 babies registered as Le in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Le?

A unisex Vietnamese given name meaning "gift" or "precious".

How many people are called Le in the UK?

A total of 38 babies have been registered as Le across the 9 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.