UK name, mostly boys
Lei
A feminine Japanese name meaning "truth", "grace", or "lovely".
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.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 7 girls.
Lei is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Lei popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2002 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Lei. 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
- • Lei ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 boys were registered as Lei.
- • Lei is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lei as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 78.8% of Lei registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
5 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Lei
In England and Wales birth records, Lei has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 78.8% of registrations are for boys and 21.2% 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.
Lei registered for boys
- Ranked #5,119 in 2024
- 3 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2006 (5 births)
Lei registered for girls
- Ranked #4,524 in 2008
- 4 girls registered in 2008
- Peak: 2008 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Lei mean?
The name Lei has its origins in several languages and cultures across the world. In Chinese, the name Lei (雷) means "thunder" and is derived from the ancient Chinese word for the natural phenomenon. It has been a popular name for boys in China for centuries.
In Hawaiian culture, the name Lei (pronunced "lay") refers to a garland or wreath of flowers that is worn around the neck or head. It is a symbol of love, celebration, and hospitality in Hawaiian tradition. The name has been used for both boys and girls in Hawaii.
In Portuguese, the name Lei is a shortened form of the name Leila, which is derived from the Arabic name Layla, meaning "night." The name Lei has been used for girls in Portugal and Brazil.
In Japanese, the name Lei (レイ) is a transliteration of the English name "Ray" or "Rae." It has been adopted as a unisex name in Japan, particularly in recent decades.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Lei:
1. Lei Zhenlong (1768-1809), a Chinese scholar and writer during the Qing Dynasty. 2. Lei Feng (1940-1962), a Chinese soldier revered as a model of selflessness and dedication in Communist propaganda. 3. Lei Tinghui (born 1983), a Chinese professional tennis player and former world No. 1 in doubles. 4. Lei Qiong (born 1981), a Chinese professional golfer who has won multiple tournaments on the Ladies European Tour. 5. Lei Sheng (born 1990), a Chinese actor and singer known for his roles in television dramas and movies.
While the name Lei has diverse origins and meanings across cultures, it has been embraced and celebrated for its unique sound and significance in various parts of the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lei over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Lei in England and Wales, from 2002 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 Lei, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lei by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lei 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4729 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3741 | 17 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Lei
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Lei: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lei in the UK right now?
In 2024, Lei was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Lei most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Lei in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lei?
A feminine Japanese name meaning "truth", "grace", or "lovely".
How many people are called Lei in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Lei across the 8 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.