Lenneth
A feminine name of Norse origin meaning "she who wears a feather cloak".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Lenneth. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Lenneth today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lenneth births was 1967 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lenneth. 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 Lenneth is about 65 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Lenneths were born before 1971.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Lenneth. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1967
5 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1967 SSA rank
#4,308
Tracked since 1967
Popularity
Lenneth: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Lenneth 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 Lenneth during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Lenneth
The name Lenneth has its origins in Old Norse, the language spoken by the Scandinavian peoples during the Viking Age. It is derived from the elements "linn," meaning "serpent" or "dragon," and "heithr," meaning "bright" or "shining." Together, these elements combine to form a name that can be interpreted as "bright serpent" or "shining dragon."
Lenneth was a relatively uncommon name in ancient times, but it did appear in some Norse sagas and legends. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Icelandic Saga of Grettir the Strong, which dates back to the 13th century. In this saga, Lenneth is mentioned as the name of a fierce warrior who fought alongside the legendary hero Grettir.
During the Middle Ages, the name Lenneth continued to be used sporadically throughout Scandinavia, particularly in Iceland and Norway. One notable bearer of the name was Lenneth Eriksdottir (c. 1210-1280), a Norwegian noblewoman who played a significant role in the political affairs of her time.
As the Viking Age drew to a close and Christianity became more widespread in the region, the name Lenneth fell out of favor for a time. However, it experienced a revival during the 19th century, when there was a renewed interest in Norse mythology and culture.
One of the most famous individuals named Lenneth was the Norwegian writer and poet Lenneth Kveldulv (1846-1919), who is considered a pioneer of the Norwegian romantic nationalist movement. His works, which drew heavily from Norse folklore and legends, helped to popularize the name once again.
Another notable Lenneth was the Icelandic explorer and adventurer Lenneth Thorvaldsson (1875-1941), who was known for his daring expeditions to the Arctic regions. His exploits captured the imagination of many and helped to cement the name's association with bravery and adventure.
In more recent times, the name Lenneth has been used occasionally, though it remains relatively uncommon. One notable bearer was the Swedish actress Lenneth Lindberg (1920-2005), who had a successful career on stage and screen throughout the mid-20th century.
While not as widely popular as some other Scandinavian names, Lenneth continues to hold a special place in the cultural heritage of the Norse peoples. Its rich linguistic origins and historical associations make it a name steeped in the mythology and traditions of this remarkable civilization.
People
Lenneth + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lenneth 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
Lenneth: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lenneth?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lenneth 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Lenneth a common name?
We classify Lenneth as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% 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 Lenneth most popular?
The single biggest year for Lenneth was 1967, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lenneth is about 65 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 Lenneth in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Lenneth a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lenneth 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 Lenneth still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Lenneth 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 Lenneth 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 common is the name Lenneth?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.