Origin, Meaning, And History Of Leah
Leah is an interesting name of Hebrew origin that signifies a tender and weary person. Its root is the Hebrew word ‘le’ah,’ noticeable in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Genesis. Here, Leah was the first wife of Jacob and the mother of seven children, a daughter and six sons. The meaning of Leah also means ‘relaxed.’
The old English variant of this Hebrew name, Lea, was given to boys. In the Bible, the matriarch Leah had eyes that were ‘delicate.’ The verse tells us that Leah’s eyes were soft, which can be interpreted as ‘beautiful.’ However, according to many, her eyes were tender and sore from crying. More popular among Jews during the Middle Ages, this name started being used in the Christian world after the Protestant Reformation period.
Alternatively, the name can also be associated with the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia, the Akkadian Empire. Here, it may be related to the word ‘littu,’ which means cow.
This feminine name has various variations across languages. It is Lea in Swedish, Polish, Serbian, Estonian, Danish, and Dutch. The other variation is Lia in Latin, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Roman. In Lithuanian, the name is Leja, and in Greek, it is Leia.
In the modern world, this name is associated with many famous personalities in royalty and entertainment. Many have borne this name, from princesses to American actresses and singers.
In fiction as well, this name has found an integral place. Leah Clearwater appears in the Twilight series novels by Stephanie Meyer, while Leah Rose is a character in the book ‘Left Behind’ by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Leah by J.M Reep tells an evocative story of a 14-year-old Leah Nells, who has lived alone and feels lost in the complex social universe when she enters high school.
Leah
How To Pronounce Leah?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Leah in English.
Famous People With The Name Leah
- Leah ChaseAmerican chef and TV personality known as the queen of Creole cuisine
- Leah McSweeneyAmerican fashion designer and the founder of women’s streetwear Married
- Leah ReminiAmerican sitcom actress known for her role in the sitcom The King of Queens
- Leah BermanAmerican mathematician known for her discoveries in discrete geometry
- Leah FindlaterCanadian-American computer scientist and the co-director of the UW’s Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences
- Leah AyresAmerican actress known for her role in the sports thriller Bloodsport
- Leah KrinskyAmerican comedy writer and a two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner
- Leah LaimanAmerican writer known for her work as the World Turns
- Leah CherniakPlaywright and director and the co-founder of Theatre Columbus
- Leah ClarkAmerican voice actress known for providing voices for the Japanese anime series
Leah On The Popularity Chart
The name witnessed an increase in popularity in the 2000s. Take a look at the graphs below for a better understanding of the name’s popularity over the years.
Popularity Over Time
Leah has remained popular since the 1980s and peaked in 2009 after which its popularity went down a little averaging at 4433 babies per million in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Almost always in the top 100, Leah slipped to 107 in 1998 quickly recovering and surging ahead to the 24th rank in 2010.
Source: Social Security AdministrationLeah On MomJunction Popularity Chart
Know how popular the name Leah is among the MomJunction readers. We used a unique approach to gather relevant insights for creating this popularity chart by observing the interactions and interest around the name on our platform. See what the trend has been among our readers over these past years.
Names With Similar Sound As Leah
Leah sounds elegant and nice. Here are more such names that will appeal to you.
Popular Sibling Names For Leah
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Leah, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Leah
Find matching brother names for Leah and create a wonderful team of siblings.
LabanLabon Lachelle Ladan Laden Lael Lamech Lasaro Lasharon Lavan Girl Sibling Names For Leah
Looking for some suitable sister names for Leah? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
LabronnaLahna Laili Lailie Lanita Lashae Lashanda Laurel Lauriel Lea Other Popular Names Beginning With L
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter L to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Leah
Do you have twin daughters? These names will be perfect for them.
Popular Songs On The Name Leah
Acrostic Poem On Leah
Dive into the lyrical charm of the name Leah with this acrostic poem. Witness how each letter paints together a story, capturing the name’s individuality, strength, vitality, and sophistication. Inspiring, is it? Why not try a similar poem that describes what you think of your baby’s personality?
Lifting the dark clouds in our life, our little sunshine.
Energetic and enthusiastic, the expeditions you will embark on are endless.
Artistic and altruistic and you are so futuristic.
Helping others grow, and kindness to always show.
Leah’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology, also called Jyotisha, provides deep insights into a person’s life based on celestial positions at birth. Rashi and nakshatra, which are an integral part of Jyotisha, are believed to influence an individual’s personality and life events. The following sections give you rashi-related information, such as the associated letters, elements, ruling body, quality, and nakshatra for the name leah. These details help analyze a person’s characteristics, personality, and behavior.
Zodiac Sign (Rashi)
As shown in the following table, each rashi is associated with specific sounds, which are often used as the starting letters of names for newborns in Hindu families. Each rashi is represented by a figure and one of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (Space). One ruling celestial body, known as its 'rashi lord' or 'ruler' is assigned to these rashis. These bodies include Venus, Mars, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. Furthermore, the rashis are assigned various qualities or gunas.
| Rashi (zodiac sign) | Mesha (Aries) |
|---|---|
| Starting letters for Mesha (Aries) rashi | A, L, E, I, O |
| Representation | Ram |
| Element | Fire |
| Ruling body | Mars |
| Quality | Movable (chara) |
Birth Star (Nakshatra)
Another important aspect of Vedic Astrology is the nakshatras, the lunar constellations or star clusters that the Moon occupies during a person's birth. There are 27 nakshatras, each with its own unique qualities, attributes, and symbolism. Each rashi contains two-and-one-fourth nakshatras in it. For example, Aries contains Ashwini, Bharani, and Krithika nakshatras.
The below table provides information on the nakshatras’ degrees on the zodiac circle, their lords and related syllables, for babies born in the Mesha (Aries) rashi. These syllables/phonetics are popularly used to choose the baby name. For precise nakshatra calculation based on your baby's birthplace and date, use our Nakshatra Calculator.
| Nakshatra | Degrees Of The Nakshatra | Nakshatra Lord (Ruler) | Name Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwini (Awasthi, Aswini) | Aries (0 to 13.20 degrees) | Ketu | Chu, Che, Cho, Choo, La, Laa |
| Bharani | Aries (13. 20 to 26.40 degrees) | Venus | Lee, Lu, Le, Lo, Li |
| Krittika (Karthikai, Krithika) | Aries (26.40 to 30.00 degrees) | Sun | Aa, Ae, E, Ee, Ai, A, I, Oo, U |
Infographic: Know The Name Leah‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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Leah In Different Languages
It’s exciting to see our baby’s name spelled and written in various languages. See how people spell Leah in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and more! Each language has its own way of saying Leah, but it’s still the same special name. Learn how the name looks and sounds in different languages around the world!
| Name | Language | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Leah | English | en |
| 利亚 | Chinese | zh-CN |
| लिआ | Hindi | hi |
| Leah | Spanish | es |
| Leah | French | fr |
| ليا | Arabic | ar |
| লেহ | Bengali | bn |
| Leah | Portuguese | pt |
| Лия | Russian | ru |
| لیہ | Urdu | ur |
| Leah | Indonesian | id |
| Leah | German | de |
| レア | Japanese | ja |
| लिआ | Marathi | mr |
| లేహ్ | Telugu | te |
| Leah | Turkish | tr |
| லியா | Tamil | ta |
| Leah | Vietnamese | vi |
| Leah | Tagalog | tl |
| 레아 | Korean | ko |
| Leah | Hausa | ha |
| Leah | Swahili | sw |
| Leah | Javanese | jv |
| Leah | Italian | it |
| ਲੀਹ | Punjabi | pa |
| લેહ | Gujarati | gu |
| ลีอาห์ | Thai | th |
| ಲೇಹ್ | Kannada | kn |
| ሊያ | Amharic | am |
| लिआ | Bhojpuri | bho |
| Leah | Yoruba | yo |
How To Communicate The Name Leah In Sign Languages
In Nautical Flags
leah
In Sign Language
leah
In Braille Alphabet
leah
In Morse Code
leah
Name Numerology For Leah
Numerology is an occult system that gives significance to numbers and their influence on human life and destiny. Numerologists attribute specific qualities, energies, and characteristics to a number. Parents who believe in numerology prefer to choose baby names that resonate positively with the child’s unique numerical vibrations, often derived from their date of birth. Here we give a general birth number and personality traits of the name Leah, based on the Pythagorean (Western) system. This analysis will differ from child to child based on their date of birth. You may use our numerology calculator for more personalized information.
Baby Name Lists Containing Leah
Read through our baby name lists that include the name Leah and several other similar names. The wider the choice, the better your selection. Isn't it?
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Movie Titles Inspired By The Name Leah
Discover the presence of Leah in an array of films. Know about the various movies that have this name.
| Movie title | Other titles | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| The Lost Footage of Leah Sullivan | Las imágenes perdidas de Leah Sullivan | 2018 |
| Ang pagsanib kay Leah Dela Cruz | 2017 | |
| Leah Smock, the Legend Awakens | Leah Smock, the Legend Awakens | 2016 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Leah?
The name Leah means ‘weary, tender person.’
2. What is the origin of the name Leah?
Leah has a Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Leah?
Leah is pronounced as lee-uh.
4. Is Leah a saint’s name?
Lea or Leah is the name of a fourth-century widow, Saint Lea of Rome. She is known for leaving her wealth behind and devoting herself to a consecrated life. Saint Leah engaged in asceticism and prayer through which she attained a holy status.
5. Why is Leah important in the Bible?
Leah is regarded as important in the Bible because God opened her womb to bear a child even when her husband Jacob preferred Rachel. Leah’s name becomes crucial at this point. Cows symbolize fertility in Mesopotamia because of the similarity between the words littu, which means ‘cow’ and alittu, meaning ‘birthgiver.’ When Leah turned fertile, she birthed four sons quickly (1).
References:
- Leah; Bible.
https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/leah-bible
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