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Leah

Girl name · 4,748 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Leah: 4,748 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 276 births in 2005.

Leah is a name of Hebrew origin, appearing in the Old Testament as the elder sister of Rachel and the first wife of Jacob, mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel. Its meaning is uncertain, often interpreted as “weary” or “wild cow,” though some scholars suggest it may derive from an Akkadian word for “mistress” or “ruler.” Famous bearers include actress Leah Remini, known for her role on *The King of Queens*, and Leah Sharibu, the Nigerian schoolgirl kidnapped by Boko Haram for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. No major place names share the same root, but the name’s close variant Leigh (as in Vivien Leigh) offers a different spelling. While not explicitly