Leithan
A masculine name of Scottish origin meaning "broad meadow".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Leithan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Leithan today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Leithan births was 2014 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Leithan. 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 Leithan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2014
5 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2014 SSA rank
#13,250
Tracked since 2014
Popularity
Leithan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Leithan 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 Leithan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Leithan
The name Leithan is of Celtic origin, derived from the Gaelic word "lèith" meaning "smooth" or "gray." It is believed to have originated in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century, in the Scottish Highlands and parts of Ireland. The name was likely used to describe someone with smooth, gray hair or a calm, even-tempered personality.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leithan can be found in the ancient Scottish genealogical records known as the "Annals of Ulster." These texts, dating back to the 15th century, mention a warrior named Leithan mac Fhearghais, who was said to have fought in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. This suggests that the name was in use among the Scottish clans during this turbulent period of Scottish history.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Leithan O'Byrne is mentioned in the historical records of Ireland. He was a member of the influential O'Byrne clan and is said to have played a role in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s, which aimed to secure autonomy for Irish Catholics.
Moving into the 17th century, a Scottish poet and writer named Leithan MacLeod is noted for his contributions to Gaelic literature. Born in 1657 on the Isle of Skye, MacLeod's works often celebrated the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the resilience of its people.
In the 19th century, a Welsh artist named Leithan Griffiths gained recognition for his landscape paintings depicting the rugged beauty of Wales. Born in 1825, Griffiths' works were celebrated for their vivid colors and attention to detail, capturing the essence of the Welsh countryside.
Another notable figure bearing the name Leithan was an Irish politician and activist named Leithan O'Connell. Born in 1890, O'Connell was a prominent figure in the Irish independence movement and played a crucial role in the negotiations that led to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.
While the name Leithan may not be as common in modern times, its Celtic roots and historical significance remain an intriguing part of its legacy. The name's association with smoothness, calmness, and resilience reflects the enduring spirit of the cultures from which it emerged.
People
Leithan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Leithan 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
Leithan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Leithan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Leithan 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 Leithan a common name?
We classify Leithan 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, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Leithan most popular?
The single biggest year for Leithan was 2014, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Leithan is about 12 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 Leithan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Leithan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Leithan 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 Leithan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Leithan 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 Leithan 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 have Leithan as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Leithan, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.