Leah: meaning and origin
Leah
“Weary; in the Bible, the wife of Jacob”
About the name Leah
Leah is a girl’s name from the Hebrew tradition. Its meaning is “weary; in the Bible, the wife of Jacob”. Names from Hebrew, many of them from the Bible. They have been used in English for centuries — from Hannah and Sarah to Noah, Elijah and Levi.
Leah is a biblical name, found in the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament, which is one reason it has been used for centuries in English-speaking families.
Tips before you choose
- Say the full name out loud with your last name, and with any middle name.
- Check the initials — and what they spell.
- Think about nicknames kids might make from it.
- Write it down: is the spelling easy for teachers and friends?
More Hebrew names
- Abigail 👧My father is joy · Hebrew
- Anna 👧Grace, favor; a form of Hannah · Hebrew
- Ayla 👧Oak tree · Hebrew
- Daniela 👧God is my judge · Hebrew
- Delilah 👧Delicate · Hebrew
- Eden 👧Delight; the Garden of Eden · Hebrew
- Eliana 👧My God has answered · Hebrew
- Elizabeth 👧My God is an oath · Hebrew
- Elliot 🧒My God is the Lord; from the medieval Elias · Hebrew
- Esther 👧Star (via Persian) · Hebrew
- Gabriela 👧God is my strength · Hebrew
- Gabriella 👧God is my strength · Hebrew
Sibling name ideas (Hebrew, boys)
- Aaron 👦Exalted, mountain of strength · Hebrew
- Abraham 👦Father of many · Hebrew
- Adam 👦Man, earth · Hebrew
- Amos 👦Carried by God · Hebrew
- Ari 👦Lion · Hebrew
- Asher 👦Happy, blessed · Hebrew
- Benjamin 👦Son of the right hand · Hebrew
- Boaz 👦Swiftness, strength · Hebrew
More girl names starting with L
- Layla 👧Night (Hebrew laila) · Hebrew
- Leilani 👧Heavenly flowers · Hawaiian
- Lila 👧Play; also linked to the lilac flower · Sanskrit / Indian
- Lillian 👧Lily; a symbol of innocence · English
- Lily 👧The lily flower, a symbol of purity · English
- Linnea 👧The twinflower, Sweden’s national flower · Scandinavian
- Lucia 👧Light · Latin
- Lucy 👧Light · Latin
- Luna 👧The Moon · Latin
- Luz 👧Light · Spanish
Questions and answers
What does the name Leah mean?
Leah is a name of Hebrew origin. It means: weary; in the Bible, the wife of Jacob.
Is Leah a boy or girl name?
Leah is usually given to girls.
How many syllables does Leah have?
Leah has 4 letters and about 1 syllable.
Is Leah a popular name?
Yes. Leah has been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. Names marked “popular now” have been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. This is an approximate guide, not an official ranking; see the Social Security Administration’s baby names site for official counts.