UK name, mostly girls
Lea
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "weary" or "tired".
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.
Lea is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Lea popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #603, with 65 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 86 births.
This profile covers 1,762 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 76% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,029 living people in the UK are called Lea. 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
- • Lea ranked #603 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 65 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 86 girls were registered as Lea.
- • Lea ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #446 in 2021.
- • About 2,029 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lea as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.7% of Lea registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#603
2024
Births in 2024
65
Latest year
Peak year
2017
86 births
Estimated living
2,029
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Lea
In England and Wales birth records, Lea has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.3% of registrations are for boys and 99.7% 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.
Lea registered for boys
- Ranked #3,651 in 2004
- 3 boys registered in 2004
- Peak: 2001 (3 births)
Lea registered for girls
- Ranked #603 in 2024
- 65 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2017 (86 births)
Meaning
What does Lea mean?
The name Lea has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "leah," which means "weary" or "tired." This name is found in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible, where Leah is the first wife of the patriarch Jacob and the mother of six of his sons.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lea is in the biblical text, where Leah is described as having "tender eyes." This physical description has led to various interpretations, with some suggesting it means she had delicate or gentle eyes, while others believe it refers to her eyes being weary or sad.
Throughout history, the name Lea has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Lea Goldberg (1911-1970), an Israeli poet, playwright, and author who is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Hebrew literature. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, and she is celebrated for her contributions to Israeli culture.
Another prominent figure with the name Lea was Lea Haller (1905-1997), a German-Swiss actress and singer. She was known for her roles in several German and Swiss films during the 1930s and 1940s, and she was also a respected cabaret performer.
In the realm of art, Lea Grundig (1906-1977) was a German painter and printmaker who was part of the Expressionist movement. Her works, which often depicted scenes of everyday life and the human figure, are held in collections around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The name Lea also has historical significance in the field of science. Lea Mendelssohn (1870-1965) was a German mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetic radiation and the theory of relativity. She worked alongside renowned scientists such as Max Planck and Albert Einstein.
Another notable figure with the name Lea was Lea Massari (born 1933), an Italian actress who gained international recognition for her performances in films such as "L'Avventura" and "The Odyssey." She won numerous awards throughout her career, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival in 1962.
While the name Lea has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture, it has been embraced and adapted by various cultures and societies throughout history, with numerous notable individuals bearing this name and leaving their mark in various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lea over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Lea 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 Lea, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 65 births in 2024, compared with 86 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lea by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lea 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 | #564 | 348 | 5 |
| 2010s | #607 | 689 | 10 |
| 2000s | #589 | 557 | 10 |
| 1990s | #639 | 168 | 4 |
Geography
Where Lea is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Lea. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Lea ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #446 in 2021.
Across the UK
Lea in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#541 in 2024
42 years of NRS records, 239 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#446 in 2021
11 years of NISRA records, 40 total registered
Related
Names similar to Lea
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Lea: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lea in the UK right now?
In 2024, Lea was ranked #603 for girls in England and Wales, with 65 births registered.
When was Lea most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 86 babies registered as Lea in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lea?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "weary" or "tired".
How many people are called Lea in the UK?
A total of 1,762 babies have been registered as Lea across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 239 more in Scotland and 40 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Lea most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Lea ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #446 in 2021. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.