Leelan
A name of Hindi origin meaning "indigo-blue, celestial, divine".
Name Census estimates that about 533 living Americans carry the first name Leelan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Leelan today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Leelan births was 2015 (44 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Leelan. 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.
People living today
533
~ 1 in 643,066 Americans
Peak year
2015
44 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,323
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Leelan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Leelan from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 345 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Leelan 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 Leelan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Leelans live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Leelan, while Ohio, Florida, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Leelan
The name Leelan is a Hindu name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "leela," which means "play" or "sport." It is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent during ancient times.
In Hindu mythology, the concept of "leela" refers to the divine play or the cosmic dance of creation, where the divine entity engages in playful and creative activities. The name Leelan is often associated with this idea of divine playfulness and creativity.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Leelan can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Puranas and the Upanishads. These texts often mention the divine leela or play of various deities, particularly Lord Krishna, who is known for his playful and mischievous nature.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Leelan. One of the earliest known figures was Leelan Chand, a renowned Indian philosopher and scholar who lived in the 8th century CE. He is credited with writing several treatises on Advaita Vedanta, a branch of Hindu philosophy.
Another prominent figure was Leelan Singh, a Sikh warrior and military leader who fought against the Mughal Empire in the 17th century. He is remembered for his bravery and valor in defending the Sikh territories.
In more recent times, Leelan Kaywin was an Indian poet and writer who lived in the early 20th century. He is renowned for his poetic works that explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
Leelan Chhibber, born in 1930, was an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his contributions to the Punjabi film industry. He directed several acclaimed films and was instrumental in promoting Punjabi cinema.
Leelan Dutta, born in 1967, is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She is recognized for her expertise in the Odissi dance form and has performed extensively both nationally and internationally.
While the name Leelan is primarily associated with the Hindu culture and Sanskrit language, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities in India and beyond, reflecting the rich diversity and cultural exchange that has taken place throughout history.
People
Leelan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Leelan 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
Leelan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Leelan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 533 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Leelan 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 643,066 US residents.
Is Leelan a common name?
We classify Leelan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 537 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Leelan most popular?
The single biggest year for Leelan was 2015, when 44 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Leelan is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Leelan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Leelan 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.
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.