Leif
Meaning: not confirmed (origin debated)
About the name Leif
The origin of Leif is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Scandinavian roots, with the meaning “Heir, descendant”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Leif we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a unique, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Leif ranked #917 for boys in the US, with 257 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2022. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Leif were boys.
- US rank 2025
- #917
- In 2015
- #1063
- Babies in 2025
- 257
Popularity of Leif, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for Leif
Leif is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Leif
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.