NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Leticia

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "joy" or "gladness".

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.

Leticia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Leticia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 32 births.

This profile covers 499 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 496 living people in the UK are called Leticia. 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

  • Leticia ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 32 girls were registered as Leticia.
  • About 496 living people in the UK are estimated to have Leticia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3015

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

2008

32 births

Estimated living

496

2026

Meaning

What does Leticia mean?

The name Leticia originated from the Latin name Laetitia, which means "joy" or "gladness." It can be traced back to ancient Roman times and was derived from the Latin word "laetus," meaning "joyful" or "happy."

The earliest recorded use of the name Laetitia dates back to the 1st century AD. It was a popular name among Roman aristocratic families and was often given to girls born during times of celebration or happiness.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Laetitia, the daughter of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, who ruled from 69 to 79 AD. She was born around 65 AD and was known for her beauty and virtue.

Another notable historical figure with the name Laetitia was Saint Laetitia, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD. She was a noblewoman from Spain who was executed for her Christian faith during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

The name Leticia, a variant spelling of Laetitia, gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in Spain and Portugal. It was a common name among the Spanish and Portuguese nobility and upper classes.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Leticia was Leticia de Braganza, a Portuguese princess who lived in the 16th century. She was the daughter of King Manuel I of Portugal and was born in 1515.

In the 17th century, Leticia de la Cueva y Benavides was a renowned Spanish poet and playwright. She was born in 1616 and was known for her works that explored themes of love, passion, and feminism.

Another famous bearer of the name Leticia was Leticia Ramolino, the mother of Napoleon Bonaparte. She was born in 1750 on the island of Corsica and played a significant role in shaping the life and career of her famous son.

In the 19th century, Leticia Casati was an Italian aristocrat and socialite known for her eccentric fashion and lifestyle. She was born in 1882 and was a muse to many artists and writers of her time, including the Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio.

The name Leticia has continued to be popular throughout the centuries, with many notable figures bearing the name in various fields, such as literature, arts, and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Leticia over time

The chart below shows babies named Leticia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Leticia, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 32 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Leticia
08162432199620102024

Decades

Leticia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Leticia 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 #2141 66 5
2010s #1653 197 10
2000s #1357 202 10
1990s #1967 34 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Leticia

  • Leticia Romanova

    tennis player

    Tennis player

Related

Names similar to Leticia

FAQ

Leticia: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Leticia was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Leticia most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 32 babies registered as Leticia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Leticia?

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "joy" or "gladness".

How many people are called Leticia in the UK?

A total of 499 babies have been registered as Leticia across the 29 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.