NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Leam

A unique name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the word "learn".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Leam is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Leam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4052, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 10 births.

This profile covers 55 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1996 to 2006. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 54 living people in the UK are called Leam. 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 2007 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Leam ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 10 boys were registered as Leam.
  • About 54 living people in the UK are estimated to have Leam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4052

2006

Births in 2006

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

10 births

Estimated living

54

2026

Meaning

What does Leam mean?

The given name Leam has its origins in the ancient Celtic languages, where it was derived from the Proto-Celtic word "lemos," which meant "elm tree." This suggests that the name has roots in the British Isles and was likely first used by the ancient Celtic tribes that inhabited those regions during the Iron Age and Roman eras.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Leam can be traced back to medieval times, when it appeared in various forms in old Irish and Welsh texts. In the 9th century, an Irish warrior named Leam mac Duib is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster, a historical record of events in medieval Ireland.

In the 12th century, a Welsh poet named Leam Ddu is noted in the Book of Aneirin, a collection of early medieval Welsh poetry. This suggests that the name was in use among both Irish and Welsh populations during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Leam was a 14th-century Irish chieftain named Leam Ó Cuinneagáin, who ruled over a territory in what is now County Longford, Ireland. His descendants continued to use the name for several generations.

In the 16th century, a Scottish nobleman named Leam MacGregor was a prominent figure in the clan wars that took place in the Scottish Highlands. He was known for his bravery in battle and his loyalty to the MacGregor clan.

Another noteworthy individual with the name Leam was a 17th-century English poet and playwright named Leam Michaelson. Although his works are largely forgotten today, he was a popular figure in literary circles during his lifetime.

Throughout history, the name Leam has remained relatively uncommon, but it has been borne by individuals from various backgrounds and parts of the world. Despite its Celtic roots, the name has been adopted and used in other cultures and languages over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Leam over time

The chart below shows babies named Leam registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2006. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Leam, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2006, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Leam
035810199620012006

Decades

Leam by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Leam 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
2000s #2836 32 7
1990s #2069 23 4

Related

Names similar to Leam

FAQ

Leam: questions and answers

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

In 2006, Leam was ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Leam most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 10 babies registered as Leam in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Leam?

A unique name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the word "learn".

How many people are called Leam in the UK?

A total of 55 babies have been registered as Leam across the 11 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.