NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Leyah

An Arabic feminine name meaning "a gazelle".

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.

Leyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Leyah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2574, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 11 births.

This profile covers 117 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 2001 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 91% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 116 living people in the UK are called Leyah. 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

  • Leyah ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2002, when 11 girls were registered as Leyah.
  • About 116 living people in the UK are estimated to have Leyah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2574

2024

Births in 2024

10

Latest year

Peak year

2002

11 births

Estimated living

116

2026

Meaning

What does Leyah mean?

The name Leyah is a relatively modern invention, with its origins and meaning shrouded in mystery. It is believed to be a variation of the Hebrew name Leah, which means "weary" or "tired." However, the spelling and pronunciation of Leyah suggest that it may have been influenced by other linguistic sources as well.

One possible source of influence is the Arabic language, where the name Leila (or Layla) is a common feminine name meaning "night." The similarity in sound and spelling between Leyah and Leila/Layla has led some scholars to speculate that the name Leyah may have been a fusion of the Hebrew Leah and the Arabic Leila.

Another theory suggests that Leyah may have been derived from the Sanskrit word "leya," which means "to dissolve" or "to merge." This could potentially connect the name to philosophical or spiritual concepts in Indian traditions.

Unfortunately, there are no definitive historical records or ancient texts that shed light on the origins of the name Leyah. The earliest recorded instances of the name are relatively recent, with the first known person named Leyah being Leyah Alem, an Ethiopian singer born in the late 20th century.

Despite its modern origins, the name Leyah has gained some popularity and recognition in various parts of the world. Notable individuals with the name Leyah include:

1. Leyah Alem (born in the late 20th century), an Ethiopian singer known for her fusion of traditional Ethiopian music with contemporary styles. 2. Leyah Shanks (born in the late 20th century), an American author and poet known for her works exploring themes of identity and self-discovery. 3. Leyah Isadora Fernandez (born in the late 20th century), a Filipino actress and model who has appeared in various television shows and films. 4. Leyah Jade Batiz (born in the early 21st century), an American child actress known for her roles in television series and movies. 5. Leyah Shanks (born in the early 21st century), a British singer and songwriter who has gained recognition for her soulful and introspective music.

While the name Leyah may lack a deep historical lineage, its unique sound and possible connections to various cultural and linguistic traditions have contributed to its growing popularity in recent times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Leyah over time

The chart below shows babies named Leyah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 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 Leyah, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Leyah
036811200120122024

Decades

Leyah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Leyah 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 #2817 34 4
2010s #3811 46 8
2000s #3429 37 7

Related

Names similar to Leyah

FAQ

Leyah: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Leyah was ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.

When was Leyah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2002, with 11 babies registered as Leyah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Leyah?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "a gazelle".

How many people are called Leyah in the UK?

A total of 117 babies have been registered as Leyah across the 19 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.