Leif

Did you know?

A few things about Leif you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.

⭐ Famous Leif

Leif Ove Andsnes

Norwegian pianist (born 1970)

Choose Leif and your child shares a first name with Leif Ove Andsnes, a Norwegian pianist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Leif, like who?” Leif Ove Andsnes's Wikipedia article is available in 27 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.

Read about Leif Ove Andsnes on Wikipedia ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Photo: Thuen, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons

• 👶How commonAbout 1 in every 6,645 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Leif, 257 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Leif would very likely be the only one.
• 📜HistoryLeif first shows up in US birth records in 1912, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 113 years since.
• 🏆Best yearIts best year was 1979, when it reached #638.
• 📈Then vs nowLeif is 2.3× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 15,576 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 6,645.
• 📍Where it's lovedLeif is most popular in Montana, where it ranks #227, followed by Utah (#351) and Washington (#425). It's in the top 1,000 in 15 states.
• 💬MeaningIn Old Norse, Leif means “heir, descendant”. Our records link it to Old Norse and Scandinavian roots.
• 🌍OriginLeif is the #9 most popular Old Norse boy name in the US. That's out of 21 Old Norse boy and unisex names in our list.

About the name Leif

Leif is a boy name of Old Norse and Scandinavian origin meaning “heir, descendant”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with L and ending in “-eif”. US birth records list Leif for boys from 1912 to 2025, in 114 of those 114 years. Its best year was 1979, when it ranked #638 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #917, with 257 babies.

Origin:Old Norse namesScandinavian names