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At a Glance: Name: Leia – Meaning: in some languages a variant of Hebrew Leah ('weary/languid'); its main modern use in English stems from the Star Wars character, chosen for sound – Origin: Dual: Hebrew (variant of Leah) / modern coinage (Star Wars) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: LAY-ah
Leia has a dual identity: in some languages it's a variant of the Hebrew name Leah, meaning 'weary' or 'languid,' but the name's main popularity in English comes from the Star Wars character, chosen simply for how it sounds. You might see 'lioness' floated as a meaning, but that claim has no etymological backing. It's a timeless, classic girl's name, pronounced LAY-ah.
Meaning & Origin of Leia
Meaning: In some languages a variant of hebrew leah ('weary/languid'); its main modern use in english stems from the star wars character, chosen for sound.
Origin: Dual: Hebrew (variant of Leah) / modern coinage (Star Wars).
A common claim: means 'weary,' sometimes 'lioness' Actually: 'Lioness' has no etymological support. In some languages, Leia is a variant of the Hebrew name Leah ('weary' or 'languid'), but its main modern use in English comes from the Star Wars character, chosen for how it sounds.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Leia
Phonetic: LAY-ah IPA: /ˈleɪə/
Popularity of Leia
Leia peaked at #211 in 2023 with 1,424 babies given the name, then slipped to #290 in 2024 with 1,094.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1949–2024.
Make Leia Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Leia, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Leia mean?
In some languages a variant of hebrew leah (‘weary/languid’); its main modern use in english stems from the star wars character, chosen for sound. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Leia)
How do you pronounce Leia?
Leia is pronounced LAY-ah (IPA: /ˈleɪə/).
Is Leia a popular name right now?
Leia peaked at #211 in 2023 and is ranked #290 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1949–2024.)
📊 How popular is Leia? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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