Leah
Leah is a girls' name of Hebrew origin meaning “weary or delicate, gazelle.” It ranked #27 in the United States in 2025. A biblical name borne by the first wife of Jacob and mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel.
how do you pronounce Leah?
LEE-uh
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Leah mean?
The name Leah means “weary or delicate, gazelle.” It comes from the Hebrew language tradition.
A biblical name borne by the first wife of Jacob and mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel. Its meaning is debated between 'weary' in Hebrew and 'gazelle' in Akkadian.
where does the name Leah come from?
From the Hebrew לֵאָה, usually derived from a root meaning weary, though an alternative traces it to an Akkadian word for cow or gazelle — an unglamorous reading that fits the pastoral setting of Genesis better than the sentimental one.
the history of Leah
Leah is the elder sister substituted for Rachel on Jacob's wedding night, and the narrative treats her as unloved but fertile: she bears six of the twelve tribal ancestors, including Levi and Judah, so the priestly and royal lines both descend from her rather than from her favoured sister. The name has been in steady English use since the Reformation.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #27 |
| 2023 | #26 |
| 2022 | #24 |
| 2021 | #25 |
| 2020 | #24 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Leah?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Leah?
- Leah Remini (actress)
- Leah Michele (actress/singer)
- Princess Leia (Star Wars character)
what names are similar to Leah?
what names go well with Leah?
Sibling names that share Leah's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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