How to say it
LEIGH · ton
ˈleɪ.tən
Feminine
Leighton
Herb-garden town
What it means
An English place name, 'settlement by the leek garden or meadow,' from Old English leac-tun.
Leighton is an English place and surname name, a 'town with a leek or herb garden,' from leac, 'leek,' and tun, 'settlement.' It crossed into first-name use on the surname wave and tipped feminine thanks to actress Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl. The -eigh- spelling is the dressier, girl-leaning form; Layton is the plainer one. Leigh is the natural short.
How to spell Leighton
The standard spelling is Leighton. Common variants include Layton, Leyton, Leightyn, but Leighton is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #342 in 2025, currently #342 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
- Spelling
Leighton leans feminine; Layton reads more masculine. Same 'leek-garden town' origin.
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.
- Leighton Meester American actress (Gossip Girl)
Spelling variants
- Layton
- Leyton
- Leightyn
Names with the same feeling
See Leighton from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Leighton mean?
- An English place name, 'settlement by the leek garden or meadow,' from Old English leac-tun.
- What does Leighton mean in English?
- In English, Leighton means "Herb-garden town." Leighton is an English place and surname name, a 'town with a leek or herb garden,' from leac, 'leek,' and tun, 'settlement.' It crossed into first-name use on the surname wave and tipped feminine thanks to actress Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl. The -eigh- spelling is the dressier, girl-leaning form; Layton is the plainer one. Leigh is the natural short.
- How do you pronounce Leighton?
- Leighton is pronounced ˈleɪ.tən. Say it as LEIGH-ton, with the stress on the "leigh" syllable.
- How do you spell Leighton?
- The standard spelling is Leighton. Common spelling variants include Layton, Leyton, Leightyn.
- Is Leighton a boy or girl name?
- Leighton is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Leighton?
- Leighton ranked #342 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.