Leri
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially a diminutive of Valeria.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Leri. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Leri today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Leri births was 1987 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Leri. 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 Leri. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1987
6 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
1987 SSA rank
#6,614
Tracked since 1981
Popularity
Leri: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Leri 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 Leri during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Leri
The name Leri finds its origins in the ancient Etruscan civilization, which flourished in what is now modern-day Italy from around the 8th century BC to the 1st century BC. It is believed to have derived from the Etruscan word "ler," meaning "clay" or "earth," possibly referring to the region's rich soil and agricultural heritage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leri can be found in the Etruscan inscriptions discovered in the ancient city of Cerveteri, dated back to around the 6th century BC. These inscriptions were often found on funerary urns and other artifacts, suggesting the name held cultural significance for the Etruscans.
During the Roman era, the name Leri was adopted by some Roman families, though its usage was relatively limited. One notable bearer of the name was Leri Valerius, a Roman statesman and philosopher who lived in the 2nd century AD and was known for his writings on ethics and political philosophy.
In the Middle Ages, the name Leri resurfaced in various parts of Europe, particularly in Italy and the surrounding regions. One prominent figure bearing the name was Leri da Viterbo, an Italian friar and scholar who lived in the 13th century and was renowned for his expertise in theology and philosophy.
Another notable individual with the name Leri was Leri Ghiberti, an Italian Renaissance sculptor and artist who lived from 1378 to 1455. He is best known for his remarkable work on the bronze doors of the Baptistery of Florence, which are considered a masterpiece of Renaissance art.
In the 16th century, Leri Ariosto, an Italian poet and playwright, gained recognition for his works, including the epic poem "Orlando Furioso." He lived from 1474 to 1533 and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Italian literature.
While the name Leri has been less common in recent centuries, it has maintained a presence in various regions, particularly in parts of Italy and other Mediterranean countries. Its rich historical roots and connections to ancient civilizations and prominent figures make it a unique and intriguing name with a fascinating cultural heritage.
People
Leri + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Leri 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
Leri: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Leri?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Leri 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Leri a common name?
We classify Leri as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Leri most popular?
The single biggest year for Leri was 1987, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Leri is about 40 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 Leri in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Leri a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Leri 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 Leri still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Leri 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 Leri 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 share the name Leri?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.