Leafy
Diminutive of the Old English "leāf", meaning verdant, plant-like.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Leafy. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Leafy today is around 99 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Leafy births was 1894 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Leafy. 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
- • The typical person named Leafy is about 99 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Leafys were born before 1937.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Leafy. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1894
13 babies that year
Average age
99
years old
1950 SSA rank
#5,720
Tracked since 1887
Popularity
Leafy: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Leafy from the 1880s through to the 1950s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1890s, with 74 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1890s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Leafy 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 Leafy 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 Leafy
The given name Leafy is a relatively modern invention, derived from the English word "leaf," which refers to the flat, typically green and bladed parts of plants. It is a nature-inspired name, likely intended to convey a sense of connection with the natural world and the beauty of foliage.
While the exact origins of the name Leafy are uncertain, it is believed to have emerged in the late 20th century as part of a broader trend towards unique and unconventional baby names. Unlike many traditional names that have roots in ancient languages or religious traditions, Leafy is a product of contemporary Western culture and its appreciation for the natural environment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leafy can be found in the 1970 novel "Leafy and the Lean Cuisine" by American author Phyllis Duzik. In this work, the protagonist, a young girl named Leafy, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healthy living. While the book itself did not achieve widespread popularity, it serves as an early example of the name's usage in literature.
A notable bearer of the name Leafy is Leafy Remillard, an American environmental activist and advocate for sustainable living. Born in 1962, Remillard has dedicated her life to promoting eco-friendly practices and raising awareness about climate change. She has authored several books on the subject and has been a frequent speaker at various environmental conferences and events.
Another individual with the name Leafy is Leafy Greenfield, a British artist and illustrator known for her intricate botanical drawings. Born in 1978, Greenfield's work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications, capturing the intricate beauty of plants and their foliage.
In the world of sports, Leafy Davidson made a name for herself as a professional golfer in the early 2000s. Born in 1985, Davidson competed on the LPGA Tour and achieved several notable victories throughout her career, including the 2008 Safeway Classic.
While the name Leafy may be relatively new, it has already gained a diverse array of bearers from various walks of life. From environmentalists to artists and athletes, the name reflects a growing appreciation for nature and a desire to forge a deeper connection with the natural world.
People
Leafy + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Leafy 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
Leafy: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Leafy?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Leafy 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Leafy a common name?
We classify Leafy as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 197 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Leafy most popular?
The single biggest year for Leafy was 1894, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Leafy is about 99 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 Leafy in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Leafy a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Leafy in the SSA data are female. 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 Leafy still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Leafy 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 Leafy 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 are named Leafy?
Find out how many Americans are named Leafy on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.