UK girl's name
Leire
A feminine name of Basque origin meaning "willow".
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.
Leire is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Leire popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2015 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.
Leire is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Leire. 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
- • Leire ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 3 girls were registered as Leire.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Leire as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2015
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Leire mean?
The name Leire has its roots in the Basque language and culture, originating in the Basque Country region of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is believed to be derived from the Basque word "leira," which means "field" or "meadow." The name can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 8th to 10th centuries.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Leire was a Basque noblewoman who lived in the 9th century. She was the daughter of García Íñiguez, the King of Pamplona, and played a significant role in the political affairs of the region at the time.
In the 11th century, the name Leire gained religious significance when a Benedictine monastery was established in the town of Leire, in the province of Navarre, Spain. The monastery, known as the Monasterio de Leire, became an important center of religious and cultural activity, and the name Leire became closely associated with it.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Leire appeared in various historical records and documents related to the Basque Country and the Kingdom of Navarre. Several notable individuals bore this name, including Leire Azkarate, a 13th-century Basque noblewoman, and Leire de Lizarazu, a 14th-century Basque landowner and patron of the arts.
During the Renaissance period, the name Leire continued to be used, particularly among the Basque aristocracy and nobility. One notable figure was Leire de Idiáquez, a 16th-century Basque noblewoman who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Isabella of Spain.
In more recent times, the name Leire has remained popular in the Basque Country and has also gained some recognition in other parts of Spain. Leire Olaberría, a contemporary Basque writer and activist, and Leire Pajín, a Spanish politician and former minister, are two notable individuals who have borne this name.
Other individuals with the name Leire who have made their mark in various fields include Leire Martínez, a Spanish professional tennis player; Leire Iglesias, a Basque singer and songwriter; and Leire Landa, a Spanish actress and model.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Leire by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Leire 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 | #5730 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Leire
- 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
Leire: questions and answers
How popular is the name Leire in the UK right now?
In 2015, Leire was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Leire most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 3 babies registered as Leire in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Leire?
A feminine name of Basque origin meaning "willow".
How many people are called Leire in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Leire across the 1 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.