Lea is a distinctive choice, ranked #603 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Lea in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#603
US Rank #834
About the Name Lea
Lea has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 131 places in five years. It was most popular in 1999 at #453 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Lea is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #834 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Lea
Unlikely. With around 65 UK babies named Lea per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Lea in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Lea has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 131 places in the last five years. Its peak was #453 in 1999. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Lea is more popular in the UK (#603) than in the US (#834). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Lea include: Lea Ypi — Lea Leman Ypi is an Albanian academic and author.; Lea Schüller — Lea Schüller is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Manchester United and the Germany national team.; Saint Lea — Saint Lea (died c..
Lea ranks #834 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
65
UK babies named Lea (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 131 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Lea
Likely around 1 other Lea in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Lea
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Nicholas Lea is a Canadian actor known for his portrayal of Alex Krycek on The X-Files and of Tom Foss on Kyle XY. He is the partner of actress Crystal Balint.
Charles James Lea was an English interior artist. He described himself as an ecclesiastical decorator, completing many works mostly in his native Leicestershire before moving to work from Manchester from 1872.