Leah
Leah is a Jewish girl name of Hebrew origin, meaning “Weary; possibly 'wild cow'”.
| Meaning | Weary; possibly 'wild cow' |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Written as | לֵאָה |
| Pronunciation | LEE-uh |
| Tradition | Jewish, Christian |
| Used in | Worldwide |
Meaning and origin of Leah
Leah is the elder daughter of Laban in Genesis, married to Jacob before her sister Rachel. Her name is usually linked to the Hebrew la'ah, 'to be weary', though some scholars connect it to an Akkadian word for 'wild cow', which would make it a pastoral name like Rachel, 'ewe'. Leah has been popular in English-speaking countries since the 1970s, and the spelling Lea is common in Europe.
Is Leah a Jewish name?
Leah is a biblical matriarch in Genesis, mother of six of the tribes of Israel including Judah and Levi; she is honoured in Judaism as one of the four matriarchs and is buried, according to tradition, in the Cave of Machpelah.
How popular is Leah?
Widely used in English-speaking countries, Israel and across Europe.
Gifts with the name Leah
- Leah name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Leah baby gifts (Amazon)
- Jewish baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Leah
Names similar to Leah
More Jewish girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leah mean?
Leah means 'Weary; possibly 'wild cow''. It is of Hebrew origin.
Is Leah a Jewish name?
Leah is a biblical matriarch in Genesis, mother of six of the tribes of Israel including Judah and Levi; she is honoured in Judaism as one of the four matriarchs and is buried, according to tradition, in the Cave of Machpelah.
How do you pronounce Leah?
Leah is pronounced LEE-uh.
Is Leah a boy or girl name?
Leah is usually a girl name.