Unisex · #4,439 in 2026

Lenis

In linguistics, fortis and lenis, sometimes identified with 'tense' and 'lax', are pronunciations of consonants with relatively greater and lesser energy, respectively. English has fortis consonants, such as the p in pat, with a corresponding lenis consonant, such as the b in bat.

Current Rank
#4,439
Peak Rank
#3,014 (1922)
Total Babies
170
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #10,690 (55 total)
👦 Boy peak #3,014 (170 total)
👦As Boy Name
1917
First Year
1972
Last Year
1922
Peak Year
#3014
Peak Rank
170
Total Count
26
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1928
First Year
2004
Last Year
2004
Peak Year
#10690
Peak Rank
55
Total Count
9
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Lenis

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

In linguistics, fortis and lenis, sometimes identified with 'tense' and 'lax', are pronunciations of consonants with relatively greater and lesser energy, respectively. English has fortis consonants, such as the p in pat, with a corresponding lenis consonant, such as the b in bat.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Originally, the terms were used to refer to an impressionistic sense of strength differences, though more sophisticated instruments eventually gave the opportunity to search for the acoustic and articulatory signs. For example, Malécot (1968) tested whether articulatory strength could be detected by measuring the force of the contact between the articulators or of the peak pressure in the mouth. Because such studies initially found little to substantiate the terminology, phoneticians have largely ceased using them, though they are still commonly used as "phonological labels for specifying a di

The Story of Lenis

As a girl name

Lenis first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1928, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 9 Leniss were born — ranking #10,690 that year. As of 2026, Lenis ranks #10,690 for girls with 9 births, with steady use. In total, more than 55 Leniss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Lenis first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1917, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1922, when 9 Leniss were born — ranking #3,014 that year. As of 2026, Lenis ranks #4,439 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 170 Leniss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Lenis

Phonetically similar names — useful when Lenis 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 Lenis

What does the name Lenis mean?
In linguistics, fortis and lenis, sometimes identified with 'tense' and 'lax', are pronunciations of consonants with relatively greater and lesser energy, respectively. English has fortis consonants, such as the p in pat, with a corresponding lenis consonant, such as the b in bat.
How popular is Lenis in 2026?
In 2026, Lenis ranks #4,439 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Lenis most popular?
Lenis reached its peak popularity in 1922, ranking #3,014 that year with 9 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Lenis most popular?
Lenis has historically been most popular in Louisiana. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Lenis.
Is Lenis a unisex name?
Yes — Lenis is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 24% of Leniss assigned female and 76% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Lenis?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Lenis include Mort, Pellegrino, Luman. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦 Similar Boy Names

👦
Mort
Peak #3014
👦
Pellegrino
Peak #3014
👦
Luman
Peak #3014
👦
Elkin
Peak #3014

👧 Similar Girl Names

👧
Matiana
Peak #10690
👧
Charle
Peak #10690
👧
Deani
Peak #10690
👧
Jaleh
Peak #10690

About the name Lenis

Lenis is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1917 and has accumulated 170 births in the dataset. Lenis's peak popularity came in 1922 when it ranked #3,014. Use the chart and map above to compare Lenis's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.