NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Leejay

A unique combination name, possibly derived from Lee and Jay.

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.

Leejay is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Leejay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3478, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 6 births.

This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2004 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 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Leejay. 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

  • Leejay ranked #3478 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 6 boys were registered as Leejay.
  • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Leejay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3478

2016

Births in 2016

5

Latest year

Peak year

2004

6 births

Estimated living

35

2026

Meaning

What does Leejay mean?

The given name Leejay is a relatively modern invention, likely originating in the late 20th century. It does not appear to have roots in any particular language or cultural tradition. The name is a combination of the common English name Lee, which is derived from the Old English word "leah" meaning a meadow or woodland clearing, and the suffix "jay" which may be intended to evoke the bird of the same name.

There are no known historical references or ancient texts that mention the name Leejay. As a relatively recent coinage, it does not have a long recorded history or notable bearers from previous centuries. The earliest documented examples of the name likely date back only a few decades at most.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Leejay was Leejay Levene, a guitarist who performed with the punk rock band Discharge in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Leejay Levene's birth name was Lee Harris, and he adopted the moniker Leejay as a stage name.

Another individual with the name Leejay is Leejay Thompson, a British actor and television presenter who has appeared in various shows and films since the late 1990s. He was born in 1977 and is known for his work on programs like Casualty and The Bill.

Leejay Abrahams is a South African rugby union player who has represented the country's national team, the Springboks. He was born in 1987 and has played as a wing or fullback in international competitions.

Leejay Edmunds is an American singer and songwriter who has released several albums in the country and Americana genres since the early 2000s. He was born in 1975 and is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Leejay Sampson is a British artist and illustrator known for her work in children's books and graphic novels. She has illustrated various publications since the late 1990s and has also worked as a storyboard artist for animated films.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Leejay over time

The chart below shows babies named Leejay registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Leejay, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2016, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Leejay
02356200420102016

Decades

Leejay by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Leejay 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 #3533 14 3
2000s #2816 21 4

Related

Names similar to Leejay

FAQ

Leejay: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Leejay was ranked #3478 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Leejay most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 6 babies registered as Leejay in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Leejay?

A unique combination name, possibly derived from Lee and Jay.

How many people are called Leejay in the UK?

A total of 35 babies have been registered as Leejay across the 7 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.