UK girl's name
Leala
A feminine name of Polynesian origin meaning "beloved child".
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.
Leala is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Leala popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 7 births.
This profile covers 88 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 2000 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.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 88 living people in the UK are called Leala. 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
- • Leala ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 7 girls were registered as Leala.
- • About 88 living people in the UK are estimated to have Leala as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
7 births
Estimated living
88
2026
Meaning
What does Leala mean?
The name Leala is believed to have originated from the Hawaiian language, where it is a feminine name derived from the word "lea," meaning "joy" or "happiness." It is thought to have emerged as a given name in the 19th century, during the period when Hawaii was a sovereign kingdom.
Leala is a melodic name that reflects the beauty and tranquility of the Hawaiian Islands. Its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural traditions and language of the native Hawaiian people, who have a deep connection with nature and the spiritual world.
While there are no definitive historical references to the name Leala in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is likely that the name was used by Hawaiian families for generations before being recorded in written form.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Leala can be found in the late 19th century. Leala Keiki was a Hawaiian woman born in 1872 who played a significant role in preserving traditional Hawaiian music and dance.
Another notable figure with the name Leala was Leala Alana, a Hawaiian activist and educator who fought for the preservation of native Hawaiian culture and language in the early 20th century. She was born in 1895 and dedicated her life to promoting Hawaiian cultural identity and self-determination.
In the realm of literature, Leala Sayer was a prominent Hawaiian author and poet of the mid-20th century. Born in 1920, her works celebrated the beauty of the Hawaiian landscape and explored themes of identity and cultural heritage.
Leala Kanahele, born in 1935, was a renowned Hawaiian dancer and choreographer who played a pivotal role in reviving and preserving traditional hula dance forms. Her contributions to perpetuating Hawaiian cultural traditions were widely recognized and celebrated.
Lastly, Leala Mendelson, born in 1941, was a Hawaiian painter and artist known for her vibrant depictions of island life and natural landscapes. Her artwork captured the essence of Hawaii's rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Leala, a name that carries the essence of joy and happiness from its Hawaiian roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Leala over time
The chart below shows babies named Leala registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 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 Leala, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Leala by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Leala 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 | #5263 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4474 | 37 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3454 | 44 | 9 |
Related
Names similar to Leala
- 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
Leala: questions and answers
How popular is the name Leala in the UK right now?
In 2024, Leala was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Leala most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 7 babies registered as Leala in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Leala?
A feminine name of Polynesian origin meaning "beloved child".
How many people are called Leala in the UK?
A total of 88 babies have been registered as Leala across the 19 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.