Letia
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from Latin.
Name Census estimates that about 351 living Americans carry the first name Letia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Letia today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Letia births was 1987 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Letia. 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
351
~ 1 in 976,508 Americans
Peak year
1987
21 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
2000 SSA rank
#16,486
Tracked since 1957
Popularity
Letia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Letia from the 1950s through to the 2000s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 155 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Letia 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 Letia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Letia
The name Letia is of uncertain origin, with various theories proposed regarding its linguistic roots and historical background. One possible explanation traces its origins to Latin, where it may have been derived from the word "laetus," meaning "joyful" or "happy." This aligns with the name's potential connection to concepts of happiness and positivity.
Another theory suggests that Letia has its roots in Ancient Greek, stemming from the word "lētē," which translates to "forgetfulness" or "oblivion." This interpretation could imply a connection to the idea of letting go or moving beyond past experiences.
Additionally, some scholars have proposed a link between Letia and the Slavic languages, particularly Russian, where it may have originated from the name "Letitia," which means "winged" or "soaring." This interpretation could symbolize freedom, aspiration, or a soaring spirit.
While the exact origins of the name remain uncertain, historical records indicate that Letia has been used as a given name for centuries, with its earliest documented instances dating back to the Middle Ages. One notable figure bearing this name was Letia of Savoy (1090-1148), a French noblewoman and the daughter of Count Amadeus II of Savoy.
In the 16th century, Letia Romana (1520-1585) was a renowned Italian poet and writer, celebrated for her works which explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her poetry collections, such as "Rime Spirituali," garnered widespread acclaim during her lifetime.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Letia Pitt (1832-1901) was a British author and educator, known for her contributions to children's literature. Her books, including "Tiny Tales for Tiny Tots," aimed to inspire and educate young readers.
In the world of music, Letia Zamenhof (1876-1957) was a Polish-born composer and pianist, renowned for her compositions that incorporated elements of Esperanto culture. Her works, such as the opera "La Revizoro," helped promote the Esperanto language through the arts.
Lastly, in the realm of sports, Letia Clouston (1900-1985) was a Scottish athlete who excelled in tennis and golf. She won multiple championships and represented Great Britain in various international competitions during her illustrious career.
People
Letia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Letia 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
Letia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Letia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 351 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Letia 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 976,508 US residents.
Is Letia a common name?
We classify Letia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 379 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Letia most popular?
The single biggest year for Letia was 1987, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Letia is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Letia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Letia in the SSA data are female. 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.