Find out how popular the first name Leshia has been for the last 18 years (from 1975 to 1992) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Leshia by gender

Based on the last 18 years of data, Leshia is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1992, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Leshia.

The history of the first name Leshia

The name Leshia is of Slavic origin, derived from the Old Russian and Old Church Slavonic words "lěsŭ" or "lěsa," meaning "forest" or "woods." Its earliest known usage dates back to the 9th century in the Kievan Rus' region, which encompassed parts of modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

In ancient Slavic folklore and mythology, the forest was a sacred and revered place, often associated with various deities and spirits. As a result, names derived from words related to the natural world, such as Leshia, were commonly given to children, particularly in rural areas, as a way to honor nature and seek protection from the spirits believed to reside within.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leshia can be found in the Laurentian Codex, a 14th-century Russian chronicle that documented the lives of saints and notable figures. The chronicle mentions a woman named Leshia who lived in the 11th century and was renowned for her piety and charitable works.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Leshia. In the 15th century, Leshia Ivanovna was a prominent noblewoman and landowner in the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Another notable figure was Leshia Petrovna (1670-1744), a Russian aristocrat and courtier during the reign of Peter the Great.

In the realm of literature, the name Leshia appears in the works of renowned Russian writers such as Alexander Pushkin and Ivan Turgenev. Pushkin's unfinished novel "The Captain's Daughter" features a character named Leshia, while Turgenev's novel "A Nest of Gentlefolk" includes a character with the same name.

Moving beyond the Slavic regions, the name Leshia has also been used in other parts of Europe, although its popularity has been more limited. In the 19th century, there was a French painter named Leshia Dubois (1822-1884), known for her landscape and portraiture works.

Additionally, Leshia Kupchenko (1890-1952) was a prominent Ukrainian actress and director who made significant contributions to the development of Ukrainian theater in the early 20th century.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Leshia was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Leshia, please contact us.

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