Leigha
Meaning of Leigha
Leigha, pronounced LEE-ə (/liːə/), is a modern Anglo-American respelling of the biblical name Leah, derived from the Hebrew לֵאָה (Le’ah), whose debated etymology ranges from “wild cow” to the poetic sense of “wearied.” The insertion of the silent “g” aligns the name visually with the Old English element “lēah,” meaning “meadow” or “clearing,” and thereby layers the ancient Semitic narrative of Jacob’s first wife with a discreet pastoral nuance prized in English toponymy. Statistically, Leigha has hovered on the periphery of mainstream use in the United States since the early 1960s, peaking at 681st in 2011 yet generally occupying the lower half of the national top-1000; this restrained but persistent presence signals a preference among parents for a recognizable, lightly customized form rather than an entirely novel coinage. Culturally, the name’s biblical pedigree lends an aura of enduring tradition, while its updated orthography conveys stylistic agility—a duality that allows Leigha to resonate in contexts that favor both heritage and quiet modernity.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as LEE-uh (/liːə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Leigha
| Leigha Brown - |
