Leaf
A leaf is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, flower, and fruit collectively form the shoot system.
Meaning & Origin of Leaf
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A leaf is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, flower, and fruit collectively form the shoot system.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Leaf
The earliest SSA record of Leaf as a baby boy name dates back to 1971, when 5 babies received it. 2016 was its biggest year on record, with 12 newborns named Leaf — #6,723 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 32% of all recorded Leafs. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2021 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 134 Leafs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Leaf
Phonetically similar names — useful when Leaf is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Leaf
What does the name Leaf mean?
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About the name Leaf
Leaf is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1971 and has accumulated 134 births in the dataset. Leaf's peak popularity came in 2016 when it ranked #6,723. Use the chart and map above to compare Leaf's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2016 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.