NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Letitia

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

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Letitia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Letitia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 44 births.

This profile covers 400 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 7% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 433 living people in the UK are called Letitia. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Letitia ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 44 girls were registered as Letitia.
  • Letitia ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #370 in 2008.
  • About 433 living people in the UK are estimated to have Letitia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5687

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

44 births

Estimated living

433

2026

Meaning

What does Letitia mean?

The name Letitia has its origins in Latin, derived from the word "laetitia" meaning "joy" or "gladness." It emerged during the Roman period, reflecting the Latin language's influence across Europe and the Mediterranean region.

In ancient Rome, Letitia was the name of a goddess personifying joy, happiness, and celebration. This divine figure was revered, and her name was bestowed upon newborn Roman girls as a symbol of hope and delight.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Letitia can be traced back to the 1st century AD, found in Roman inscriptions and historical texts. During the Middle Ages, the name remained in use, particularly in regions with strong Latin cultural roots, such as Italy and parts of France.

One of the earliest notable individuals to bear the name Letitia was Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802-1838), an English poet and novelist. She gained fame for her poetic works, including "The Improvisatrice" and "The Vow of the Peacock."

Another prominent figure was Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1766-1825), an English author and playwright. She wrote several successful plays, including "The Sicilian Romance" and "The Bride of Venice."

In the 18th century, Letitia Tyler (1790-1842) was the wife of John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States. As First Lady, she played a significant role in promoting social causes and supporting her husband's political career.

Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802-1838), better known as L.E.L., was a celebrated English poet and novelist during the Romantic era. Her works, such as "The Troubadour" and "The Golden Violet," were highly acclaimed for their lyrical beauty and emotional depth.

Letitia Fairbanks (1892-1923) was an American silent film actress and dancer. She appeared in several popular films of the 1920s, including "The Mollycoddle" and "The Nut," before her untimely death at the age of 31.

Throughout history, the name Letitia has maintained its association with joy, happiness, and celebration, reflecting its Latin roots. Its enduring presence across different cultures and time periods is a testament to its timeless appeal and the universal desire for joy and delight.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Letitia over time

The chart below shows babies named Letitia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Letitia, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 44 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Letitia
011223344199620092023

Decades

Letitia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Letitia 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 #5634 6 2
2010s #4061 51 9
2000s #1232 214 10
1990s #748 129 4

Geography

Where Letitia is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Letitia. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Letitia ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #370 in 2008.

Northern Ireland
4
Scotland
4

Across the UK

Letitia in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#546 in 1990

8 years of NRS records, 25 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#370 in 2008

3 years of NISRA records, 11 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Letitia

  • Letitia Harris

    (born 2000)

    2000-

  • Letitia Wright

    actor; film actor

    Guyanese actress (born 1993)

    1993-

  • Letitia Patience Edwards-Moss

    (born 1983)

    1983-

  • Letitia Dean

    actor; singer; film actor

    British actress

    1967-

  • Letitia Gwynne

    television presenter

    Belfast journalist and television presenter

    1962-

  • Letitia Chitty

    engineer

    English engineer

    1897-1982

  • Letitia Overend

    philanthropist

    Irish philanthropist and motor enthusiast

    1880-1977

  • Letitia MacColl Elton

    children's writer

    Scottish children's writer

    1865-1948

Related

Names similar to Letitia

FAQ

Letitia: questions and answers

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

In 2023, Letitia was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Letitia most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 44 babies registered as Letitia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Letitia?

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

How many people are called Letitia in the UK?

A total of 400 babies have been registered as Letitia across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 25 more in Scotland and 11 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Letitia most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Letitia ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #370 in 2008. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.