Leigh

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Leigh

Gender: Masculine, Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Leigh is a fanciful respelling of the surname Lee. Lee is an Old English word meaning “meadow,” or “clearing.”

History:
The elaborate spelling L-e-i-g-h is more often given to girls than is L-e-e.

Use of Leigh as a feminine name began in the 1940s. Although Lee has occasionally been given to girls in past years, the most probable source is British actress Vivien Leigh (Vivian Mary Hartley 1913-1967) who had recently starred in Gone With the Wind (1939).

Please see Lee for more information.

Pronunciation: lee.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
J.H. (James Henry) Leigh Hunt (m., 1784-1859)
English poet.

Miscellaneous:
Leigh Wade (m., 1896-)
American aviator.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for males:
0.004 % named Leigh

Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for females:
0.032 % named Leigh

Popularity of Leigh, for males:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1930: N/A
1930-1940: 936th most popular.
1940-1950: 884th most popular.
1950-1960: 810th most popular.
1960-1970: 917th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A

Popularity of Leigh, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1940: N/A
1940-1950: 926th most popular.
1950-1960: 468th most popular.
1960-1970: 286th most popular.
1970-1980: 230th most popular.
1980-1990: 302nd most popular.
1990: 491st most popular.
1991: 549th most popular.
1992: 571st most popular.
1993: 631st most popular.
1994: 739th most popular.
1995: 863rd most popular.
1996: 909th most popular.
1997: N/A