Laysen
A feminine name of uncertain derivation, possibly coined from elements relating to light or laurel.
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Laysen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Laysen today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Laysen births was 2024 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Laysen. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Laysen. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2024
7 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,456
Tracked since 2016
Popularity
Laysen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Laysen from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Laysen by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Laysen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Laysen
The name Laysen is an intriguing one, steeped in history and cultural significance. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes that once inhabited the vast expanses of northern Europe. Derived from the Proto-Germanic root word "laiþs," meaning "to go" or "to travel," the name Laysen was initially bestowed upon those who were known for their wanderlust and adventurous spirit.
As these nomadic tribes migrated across the continent, the name Laysen evolved and took on various spellings and forms, such as Leisen, Leysen, and Laisen. It is believed that the name first appeared in written records during the 5th century, etched onto rune stones and carved into the handles of weapons carried by warriors of that era.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Laysen was a renowned Viking explorer who embarked on daring voyages across the treacherous seas in the late 9th century. Though his exact name has been lost to history, his exploits were celebrated in the ancient Norse sagas, where he was referred to as "Laysen the Wayfarer."
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Laysen gained popularity among the noble classes of various European regions. One notable figure was Laysen of Burgundy (1095-1148), a skilled diplomat and advisor to several French monarchs. His diplomatic efforts played a crucial role in brokering peace treaties and forging alliances during a turbulent period of European history.
In the 16th century, the name Laysen found its way into the annals of religious history with Laysen Kirchner (1521-1588), a German theologian and reformer who was a close associate of Martin Luther. Kirchner's writings and sermons greatly influenced the Protestant Reformation and shaped the religious landscape of Europe at that time.
As exploration and discovery became a driving force in the later centuries, the name Laysen was borne by several intrepid adventurers and explorers. One such individual was Laysen Eriksson (1678-1739), a Swedish navigator who led expeditions to the Arctic regions and made significant contributions to cartography and the understanding of northern trade routes.
Another notable figure was Laysen Vanderbilt (1792-1877), an American businessman and industrialist who amassed a vast fortune through his investments in shipping and railroads. His entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen helped shape the economic landscape of the United States during the 19th century.
These are but a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the name Laysen throughout history, each leaving their mark on the world in their own unique way. From Viking explorers to religious reformers, diplomats to industrialists, the name Laysen has been borne by those who embodied the spirit of adventure, intellect, and determination.
People
Laysen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Laysen as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Laysen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Laysen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Laysen going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Laysen a common name?
We classify Laysen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Laysen most popular?
The single biggest year for Laysen was 2024, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Laysen is about 5 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Laysen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Laysen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Laysen in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Laysen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Laysen in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Laysen can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Laysen?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.