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At a Glance: Name: Leland – Meaning: son of a servant of Saint Faolán (a name meaning 'little wolf') – Origin: Irish Gaelic (surname) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: LEE-land
Leland is a boy's name rooted in Irish Gaelic, tracing back to a surname meaning "son of a servant of Saint Faolan," whose own name meant "little wolf." It's pronounced LEE-land. You may see Leland glossed elsewhere as "meadow" or "fallow land," but that reading doesn't hold up — the name's real root is the Faolan connection above.
Meaning & Origin of Leland
Meaning: Son of a servant of saint faolán (a name meaning 'little wolf').
Origin: Irish Gaelic (surname).
A common claim: Commonly glossed as 'meadow' or 'fallow land.' Actually: Leland actually derives from a Gaelic surname meaning 'son of a servant of Saint Faolán' (Faolán itself meaning 'little wolf'), not 'meadow' or 'fallow land.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Leland
Phonetic: LEE-land IPA: /ˈliːlənd/
Popularity of Leland
Leland reached its highest point in 1921, ranking #171 with 866 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled much further down the list at #547, with 540 babies recorded.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Leland Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Leland, 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 Leland mean?
Son of a servant of saint faolán (a name meaning ‘little wolf’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Leland)
How do you pronounce Leland?
Leland is pronounced LEE-land (IPA: /ˈliːlənd/).
Is Leland a popular name right now?
Leland peaked at #171 in 1921 and is ranked #547 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
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