Leif

Meaning of Leif

It means "heir" or "descendant."

Leif has Scandinavian roots — browse every Scandinavian baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Leif

After ranking as high as #840 in 2022, Leif has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Leif

• Leif Garrett
  Singer and actor
• Leif Erikson
  Norse explorer
• Leif Ove Andsnes
  Classical pianist
• Leif Pagrotsky
  Swedish politician
• Leif Vollebekk
  Canadian singer-songwriter

More Scandinavian names

Questions about the name Leif

What does the name Leif mean?

Leif means it means "heir" or "descendant.", and it comes from Scandinavian origins.

Is Leif a boy's or a girl's name?

Leif is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Leif?

Leif did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Leif most popular?

Leif peaked at #840 in 2022.