Leif
2025 SSA
About Leif
Leif is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names, thanks to Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson, and is still one of the best, with a pleasant aural association with the word leaf.
Leif Erikson, son of explorer Eric the Red, was the first European to land in North America--some five hundred years before Columbus. Centuries later, the name became associated in the U.S. with 1970s teen idol Leif Garrett, the name peaking on the charts at Number 654 in 1970, dropping off completely in 1987. It climbed back onto the Top 1000 in 2014.
Pronounced LAYF or LIFE in its Scandinavian milieu, Leif and Lief are sometimes pronounced as Leaf in English-speaking countries. Joaquin Phoenix was for a time known as Leaf, in keeping with the nature names of his siblings.
Pronounced LAYF.
As of October 2026, Leif ranked #917 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #638 in 1979, Nameberry popularity #366.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,007 | 205 | 106.7 |
| 2015 | #1,063 | 187 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | #966 | 214 | 112.8 |
| 2017 | #956 | 218 | 117.8 |
| 2018 | #1,003 | 207 | 114 |
| 2019 | #1,015 | 205 | 114.3 |
| 2020 | #913 | 245 | 141.9 |
| 2021 | #995 | 221 | 126.3 |
| 2022 | #840 | 290 | 166.1 |
| 2023 | #859 | 279 | 163.1 |
| 2024 | #925 | 250 | 145.1 |
| 2025 | #917 | 257 | 150.5 |
World rankings
Similar names
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Leif on lists
Famous Leifs
- Leif Erikson
Icelandic explorer; first European to arrive in the New World
- Leif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson)
American actor
- Leif Garrett (born Leif Per Nervik)
American actor and singer
- Leif Enger
American novelist
- Leif Manson
American reality TV personality ("Survivor: One World")
- Leif Hoste
Belgian cyclist
- George Livingston "Leif" Shiras
American tennis player
- Leif Ove Andsnes
Norwegian pianist
- Leif Coorlim
American journalist
- Leif Reid
American lawyer; son of politician U.S. politician Harry Reid
- Leif Albert Lotman (b. 2016)
son of volleyball player Paul Lotman
- Leif Ostrum
son of actor Peter Ostrum
Leif in pop culture
- Leif ( Reiji in JP ) the Sloth
a garden shop owner from the Animal Crossing games.
- Leif
character in 'Arcadia' by Lauren Groff.
- Leif Bornewell III
a character from the Nickelodeon cartoon "Welcome To The Wayne"
- Leif
character in NBC's "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist"