What Does the Name Leah Mean?
Leah is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning “weary; possibly 'wild cow'.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Leah |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | weary; possibly 'wild cow' |
| Variants | Lea, Lia, Leia, Léa |
| Popularity | Top 30 US girls' name throughout the 2000s-2010s. |
The meaning and origin of Leah
The name Leah means “weary; possibly 'wild cow'” and has Hebrew origins. From the Hebrew Leah, traditionally interpreted as 'weary,' though it may derive from a word for 'wild cow' or be related to Akkadian for 'mistress, ruler.' In the Old Testament, Leah is the first wife of Jacob.
Variants and related names
Leah is related to several other names you may recognize: Lea, Lia, Leia, Léa. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Leah?
Top 30 US girls' name throughout the 2000s-2010s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leah mean?+
The name Leah means “weary; possibly 'wild cow'” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Leah?+
Leah originates from Hebrew.
Is Leah a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Leah has trended in the US over time.
Leah by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press