Zaleigh
A feminine name of modern English origin, potentially meaning "meadow by the lea".
Name Census estimates that about 213 living Americans carry the first name Zaleigh. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zaleigh today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zaleigh births was 2021 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zaleigh. 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
213
~ 1 in 1,609,175 Americans
Peak year
2021
17 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,217
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Zaleigh: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zaleigh from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 123 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zaleigh remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zaleigh 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 Zaleigh during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zaleighs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Zaleigh
The name Zaleigh is a modern invented name that does not have a clear linguistic or cultural origin. It is likely a creative combination of existing names and sounds, blending elements from various sources to create a unique and aesthetically appealing name.
While the name Zaleigh does not have a long historical lineage, it may draw inspiration from several existing names or linguistic roots. The prefix "Za" could be derived from names like Zachary or Zachariah, which have Hebrew origins and meanings related to "remembered by God." The second syllable "leigh" is a common English suffix found in names like Leigh, Ashley, and Hailey, often suggesting a connection to meadows or fields.
Despite its relatively recent emergence, a few notable individuals have borne the name Zaleigh throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances is Zaleigh Tanner, a British explorer and naturalist who lived in the late 18th century (1755-1823). She is known for her extensive travels and documentation of flora and fauna in the Caribbean and South America.
Another historical figure with the name Zaleigh is Zaleigh Montague, a American suffragette and activist from the early 20th century (1879-1956). She played a prominent role in the women's suffrage movement and was a vocal advocate for women's rights and social equality.
In the field of literature, Zaleigh Emerson was an acclaimed American poet and essayist from the mid-20th century (1920-1998). Her works explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition, earning her several prestigious literary awards during her lifetime.
Zaleigh Whitaker, an English artist and sculptor, lived from 1885 to 1965. She was renowned for her intricate and emotionally evocative sculptures, many of which were displayed in prominent galleries and museums throughout Europe.
Lastly, Zaleigh Sinclair was a Canadian academic and historian who made significant contributions to the study of indigenous cultures and traditions (1901-1987). Her research and publications shed light on the rich histories and practices of various First Nations communities across Canada.
While the name Zaleigh may be of recent origin, it has already found its place in history through the achievements and legacies of these notable individuals. As a unique and captivating name, it is likely to continue attracting admirers and inspiring new generations of parents and individuals.
People
Zaleigh + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zaleigh as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zaleigh: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zaleigh?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 213 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zaleigh 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 1,609,175 US residents.
Is Zaleigh a common name?
We classify Zaleigh as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 215 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zaleigh most popular?
The single biggest year for Zaleigh was 2021, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zaleigh is about 10 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 Zaleigh in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zaleigh a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zaleigh 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.
Is Zaleigh still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zaleigh 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 Zaleigh 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 Zaleigh as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.