Leif
Leif is a boys' name of Norse origin meaning “heir, descendant, beloved.” It ranked #917 in the United States in 2025. Leif derives from Old Norse 'leifr' meaning 'heir' or 'descendant.
how do you pronounce Leif?
LAYF
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Leif mean?
The name Leif means “heir, descendant, beloved.” It comes from the Norse language tradition.
Leif derives from Old Norse 'leifr' meaning 'heir' or 'descendant.' Leif Erikson was the Norse explorer who reached North America around 1000 CE, approximately 500 years before Columbus. Leif Erikson Day is celebrated on October 9th in the United States and Norway.
where does the name Leif come from?
Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree that Leif is a Scandinavian name from Old Norse Leifr, meaning heir or descendant. A separate Wiktionary entry notes the variant spelling Laif, explaining that Leif preserves the vowel of an older dative and plural form while Laif continues the nominative and accusative singular.
the history of Leif
Per Wiktionary, the name has been used in Norway since the Middle Ages and was revived in the nineteenth century.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #917 |
| 2024 | #928 |
| 2023 | #860 |
| 2022 | #841 |
| 2021 | #995 |
| 2020 | #914 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Leif?
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Leif?
- Leif Erikson (Norse explorer of North America)
- Leif Garrett (American singer and actor)
what names are similar to Leif?
what names go well with Leif?
Sibling names that share Leif's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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