How to say it
LE · ah
ˈliː.ə
Feminine
Leah
Weary, or 'wild cow'
What it means
Hebrew Le'ah. Traditional reading is 'weary'; modern scholars sometimes propose a connection to a word for 'wild cow' (a symbol of fertility in ancient Mesopotamia). Jacob's first wife in Genesis.
Leah is the Hebrew Le'ah. The traditional gloss is 'weary,' but modern scholarship sometimes proposes a link to lā'â ('wild cow'), which in Mesopotamian context was a fertility symbol rather than an insult. In Genesis, Leah is the older daughter of Laban whom Jacob marries unintentionally (he was promised Rachel, her sister); Leah goes on to bear six of the twelve patriarchs of Israel. The English Leah was a Puritan favorite, faded, and surged with the broader biblical revival of the 1990s. It's been in the US top 100 since 1996. Lee is a rare short; most Leahs keep the full two syllables.
How to spell Leah
The standard spelling is Leah. Common variants include Lea, Lia, Leia, but Leah is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #24 in 2010, currently #58 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Star Wars's Princess Leia (different spelling, same root) is the unavoidable phonetic echo; many parents using the Leah spelling consciously distance from it.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Leah (Bible) Jacob's first wife, mother of six of the twelve patriarchs of Israel
- Leah Remini Actress and former Scientologist, The King of Queens
- Leah Williamson English footballer, England captain at Euro 2022 (the Lionesses' winning campaign)
Spelling variants
- Lea
- Lia
- Leia
Names with the same feeling
See Leah from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Leah mean?
- Hebrew Le'ah. Traditional reading is 'weary'; modern scholars sometimes propose a connection to a word for 'wild cow' (a symbol of fertility in ancient Mesopotamia). Jacob's first wife in Genesis.
- What does Leah mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Leah means "Weary, or 'wild cow'." Leah is the Hebrew Le'ah. The traditional gloss is 'weary,' but modern scholarship sometimes proposes a link to lā'â ('wild cow'), which in Mesopotamian context was a fertility symbol rather than an insult. In Genesis, Leah is the older daughter of Laban whom Jacob marries unintentionally (he was promised Rachel, her sister); Leah goes on to bear six of the twelve patriarchs of Israel. The English Leah was a Puritan favorite, faded, and surged with the broader biblical revival of the 1990s. It's been in the US top 100 since 1996. Lee is a rare short; most Leahs keep the full two syllables.
- How do you pronounce Leah?
- Leah is pronounced ˈliː.ə. Say it as LE-ah, with the stress on the "le" syllable.
- How do you spell Leah?
- The standard spelling is Leah. Common spelling variants include Lea, Lia, Leia.
- Is Leah a boy or girl name?
- Leah is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Leah?
- Leah ranked #58 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.