Life
Life is matter that has biological processes, such as signaling and the ability to sustain itself. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, organisation, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction. All life eventually reaches a state of death, and none is immortal.
Meaning & Origin of Life
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Life is matter that has biological processes, such as signaling and the ability to sustain itself. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, organisation, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction. All life eventually reaches a state of death, and none is immortal.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Life
As a girl name
Life first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2004, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 6 Lifes were born — ranking #15,491 that year. As of 2026, Life ranks #15,678 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 22 Lifes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Life first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2003, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2003, when 8 Lifes were born — ranking #7,830 that year. As of 2026, Life ranks #10,889 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 56 Lifes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Life
Phonetically similar names — useful when Life 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 Life
What does the name Life mean?
How popular is Life in 2026?
When was Life most popular?
Is Life a unisex name?
What names go well with Life?
About the name Life
Life is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2003 and has accumulated 56 births in the dataset. Life's peak popularity came in 2003 when it ranked #7,830. Use the chart and map above to compare Life's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2003 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.