UK boy's name
Leighlan
An Anglicized form of the Irish name Lachlan, from Gaelic "lochlann" meaning "land of lakes".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Leighlan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Leighlan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3908, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 4 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2007 to 2015. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Leighlan. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Leighlan ranked #3908 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 4 boys were registered as Leighlan.
- • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Leighlan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3908
2015
Births in 2015
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
4 births
Estimated living
17
2026
Meaning
What does Leighlan mean?
The name Leighlan is a variant spelling of the Irish name Lochlainn, which is derived from the Old Norse name Lochlann. Lochlann was the name used by the Norse to refer to the territory that encompassed parts of modern-day Ireland, Scotland, and Norway. The name is believed to have originated during the Viking Age, which spanned from the late 8th century to the late 11th century.
The name Lochlainn can be traced back to the Old Norse words "loch" meaning "lake" and "lann" meaning "land." Together, they form the word "Lochlann," which translates to "land of lakes," referring to the many lakes and waterways that were found in the region. The name was likely adopted by the Vikings who settled in these areas and interacted with the local Celtic populations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lochlainn can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle that dates back to the 15th century. The Annals mention a figure named Lochlainn Ó Máille, who was a prominent leader in the Irish province of Connacht during the 12th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Leighlan or its variants. One such person was Leighlin O'Brien (1165-1236), an Irish prince and Bishop of Killaloe in County Clare, Ireland. Another was Loughlin Bán (1625-1680), an Irish harpist and composer from County Sligo, renowned for his contributions to traditional Irish music.
In the 18th century, there was Lochlan MacQuarie (1762-1824), a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales in Australia. In the 19th century, Loughlin McGovern (1841-1918) was an Irish-American politician and businessman from New York City.
More recently, in the 20th century, Loughlin Lawrence (1914-2005) was an American actor and comedian, best known for his role as the Hooterville handyman in the 1960s sitcom Petticoat Junction. These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Leighlan or its variants throughout history, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Leighlan over time
The chart below shows babies named Leighlan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Leighlan, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2015, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Leighlan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Leighlan 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 | #4464 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4011 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Leighlan
- 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
Leighlan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Leighlan in the UK right now?
In 2015, Leighlan was ranked #3908 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Leighlan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 4 babies registered as Leighlan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Leighlan?
An Anglicized form of the Irish name Lachlan, from Gaelic "lochlann" meaning "land of lakes".
How many people are called Leighlan in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Leighlan across the 5 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.