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Origin, Meaning, And History Of Leah
Leah is an interesting name of Hebrew origin that signifies a tender and weary person. Its root is the Hebrew word ‘le’ah,’ noticeable in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Genesis. Here, Leah was the first wife of Jacob and the mother of seven children, a daughter and six sons. The meaning of Leah also means ‘relaxed.’
The old English variant of this Hebrew name, Lea, was given to boys. In the Bible, the matriarch Leah had eyes that were ‘delicate.’ The verse tells us that Leah’s eyes were soft, which can be interpreted as ‘beautiful.’ However, according to many, her eyes were tender and sore from crying. More popular among Jews during the Middle Ages, this name started being used in the Christian world after the Protestant Reformation period.
Alternatively, the name can also be associated with the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia, the Akkadian Empire. Here, it may be related to the word ‘littu,’ which means cow.
This feminine name has various variations across languages. It is Lea in Swedish, Polish, Serbian, Estonian, Danish, and Dutch. The other variation is Lia in Latin, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Roman. In Lithuanian, the name is Leja, and in Greek, it is Leia.
In the modern world, this name is associated with many famous personalities in royalty and entertainment. Many have borne this name, from princesses to American actresses and singers.
In fiction as well, this name has found an integral place. Leah Clearwater appears in the Twilight series novels by Stephanie Meyer, while Leah Rose is a character in the book ‘Left Behind’ by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Leah by J.M Reep tells an evocative story of a 14-year-old Leah Nells, who has lived alone and feels lost in the complex social universe when she enters high school.
How To Pronounce Leah?
Famous People With The Name Leah
- Leah ChaseAmerican chef and TV personality known as the queen of Creole cuisine
- Leah McSweeneyAmerican fashion designer and the founder of women’s streetwear Married
- Leah ReminiAmerican sitcom actress known for her role in the sitcom The King of Queens
- Leah BermanAmerican mathematician known for her discoveries in discrete geometry
- Leah FindlaterCanadian-American computer scientist and the co-director of the UW’s Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences
- Leah AyresAmerican actress known for her role in the sports thriller Bloodsport
- Leah KrinskyAmerican comedy writer and a two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner
- Leah LaimanAmerican writer known for her work as the World Turns
- Leah CherniakPlaywright and director and the co-founder of Theatre Columbus
- Leah ClarkAmerican voice actress known for providing voices for the Japanese anime series
Leah On The Popularity Chart
The name witnessed an increase in popularity in the 2000s. Take a look at the graphs below for a better understanding of the name’s popularity over the years.
Popularity Over Time
Leah has remained popular since the 1980s and peaked in 2009 after which its popularity went down a little averaging at 4433 babies per million in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Almost always in the top 100, Leah slipped to 107 in 1998 quickly recovering and surging ahead to the 24th rank in 2010.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Leah
Leah sounds elegant and nice. Here are more such names that will appeal to you.
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Name Numerology For Leah
