Leighton

At a Glance

Meaning

Leek/herb-garden settlement

Origin

English (place name/surname)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

LAY-tunListen

Leighton is an English name with roots as a place name and surname, built from Old English ‘lēac,’ meaning leek, plus a settlement term — so its sense is “leek/herb-garden settlement.” You'll sometimes see it glossed as ‘meadow town,’ but that mixes up ‘lēac’ (leek) with the similarly spelled ‘lēah’ (meadow). It's pronounced LAY-tun (IPA /ˈleɪtən/) and has an outdoorsy, nature-inspired, clean, modern feel.

Meaning & Origin of Leighton

Meaning: Leek/herb-garden settlement.

Origin: English (place name/surname).

A common claim: Often glossed as 'meadow town.' Actually: That confuses Old English 'lēac' (leek) with the similarly spelled 'lēah' (meadow) — Leighton actually means 'leek/herb-garden settlement.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Leighton

Popularity of Leighton

Leighton peaked at #357 in 2023 with 853 girls given the name, then eased slightly to #395 in 2024 with 797 — a small dip after its high point, within Social Security data spanning 1893 to 2024.

Names Like Leighton

These names share Leighton’s style, era or origin.

• Berkley
• Ensley
• Hadlee
• Hailey
• Henley
• Kendall

FAQ

What does the name Leighton mean?

Leek/herb-garden settlement. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Leighton?

Leighton is pronounced LAY-tun (IPA: /ˈleɪtən/).

Is Leighton a popular name right now?

Leighton is near its all-time peak (#357 in 2023), ranked #395 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1893–2024.)

Make Leighton Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Leighton, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.