Leah

לֵאָה

• Gender: Female
• Origin: Biblical / Rabbinic Hebrew
• Meaning: delicate

• Leah is one of the four matriarchs of the Jewish people and the first wife of Jacob, making her one of the most significant women in the entire Torah. She mothered six of the twelve tribes of Israel, and her story is one of quiet resilience, deep emotion, and fierce devotion to her family. The name is traditionally understood to mean "delicate" or "weary," a poignant reflection of her life's journey. Whether you say it LAY-uh (the Hebrew way) or LEE-uh (the English way), it remains one of the most enduring names in the Jewish tradition.

  Timeless without trying too hard, this matriarchal name is having a quiet, confident moment right now. It ages beautifully from a little girl's name to a powerful woman's name, and its Old Testament gravity gives it substance that trendier picks can lack. The great Israeli poet Leah Goldberg, beloved for her lyrical Hebrew verse and children's literature, proved just how beautifully the name wears on a literary giant.

• Alternate Spellings: Lea, Leiah, Leia, Laya, Layah, Laia
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Sarah
  ,
  Naomi
  ,
  Samuel
  ,
  Nathan
• Theme: positive qualities