Le first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Le has been for the last 41 years (from 1974 to 2014) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Le

A unisex Vietnamese given name meaning "gift" or "precious".

Popularity of Le by gender

Based on the last 41 years of data, Le is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 58% of people named Le being female.

For the most recent data in 2014, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Le.

It's also interesting to see that despite Le being historically a mostly female name, the most recent data from 2014 shows a shift in the trend, with more male babies being named Le.

Year Male Count Female Count
2014 7 0
2006 0 6
2005 0 5
2004 0 5
2003 5 0
2002 12 5
2001 9 7
2000 16 9
1999 17 0
1998 11 11
1997 6 13
1996 7 10
1995 8 10
1994 12 11
1993 16 21
1992 12 26
1991 18 19
1990 19 25
1989 13 13
1988 13 9
1987 6 15
1986 15 11
1985 12 20
1984 12 18
1983 8 29
1982 14 35
1981 8 29
1980 5 25
1979 11 15
1978 7 17
1977 10 7
1976 9 7
1975 6 7
1974 5 10

The history of the first name Le

The name Le has its origins in the Vietnamese language and culture. It is a widely used and popular name in Vietnam, especially as a unisex name. Le is believed to have derived from the Old Vietnamese word "le" meaning "field" or "village." This suggests that the name may have originated from rural farming communities in ancient Vietnam.

In Vietnamese culture, the name Le is often associated with the concept of simplicity, humility, and a connection to nature. It is a name that reflects the country's rich agricultural heritage and the importance of the land to the Vietnamese people.

The name Le can be traced back to ancient Vietnamese texts and historical records. It appears in various literary works, including the famous epic poem "The Tale of Kieu" by Nguyen Du, which dates back to the early 19th century.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Le is Le Loi, a celebrated Vietnamese military leader who played a crucial role in gaining independence from Chinese rule in the 15th century. Le Loi became the first emperor of the Later Le Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1428 to 1789.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Le. One of the most famous is Le Quy Don, a renowned Vietnamese scholar, poet, and philosopher from the 18th century. His works greatly influenced Vietnamese literature and culture.

Another prominent historical figure with the name Le is Le Van Huu, a Vietnamese revolutionary and military strategist who played a significant role in the struggle for independence against French colonial rule in the early 20th century.

In the realm of arts and literature, Le Thi Dieu Thuy, a celebrated Vietnamese poet and writer from the 20th century, is widely recognized for her contributions to modern Vietnamese literature.

Le Duc Tho, a Vietnamese revolutionary and diplomat, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Vietnam War, though he declined the award.

While the name Le is primarily associated with Vietnamese culture, it has also been adopted in other parts of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia and among Vietnamese diaspora communities.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Le was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Le, please contact us.

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"Le first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 8, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/le-meaning-and-history/.

"Le first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/le-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 May, 2025

Le first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/le-meaning-and-history/.

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