Home › Baby Names Directory › Legacy

Legacy

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEG-uh-see /ˈlɛɡ.ə.si/High

Meaning: From the English word legacy, from Medieval Latin legacia meaning bequest or what is bequeathed, from legare meaning to bequeath; used as a given name from the late 20th century to evoke lasting impact and purposeful lifeHigh

In 30 seconds: An aspirational word-name meaning the enduring impact one leaves behind, Legacy has been rising rapidly as parents seek names that carry intention, purpose, and a sense of destiny.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighEnglish, Latin
MeaningFrom the English word legacy, from Medieval Latin legacia meaning bequest or what is bequeathed, from legare meaning to bequeath; used as a given name from the late 20th century to evoke lasting impact and purposeful life
U.S. rank (2025)#662 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births429 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,770

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202119942025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Legacy as a given name is a modern American word-name drawn directly from the English vocabulary. The word comes from Medieval Latin legacia, meaning bequest or what is willed to an heir. As a name it functions as an aspirational statement — parents who choose it are expressing hope that their child will live a life of lasting impact and meaning.

Legacy began appearing on U.S. birth records in the 1990s and has grown steadily. It accelerated in the 2010s alongside a trend for intention-names and word-names that communicate parental hope — comparable to Honor, Destiny, and Serenity. It is used almost exclusively for girls. By the mid-2020s it has entered the top 200 girls' names in the United States.

Did you know? Legacy is one of the fastest-rising word-names for girls in the United States in the 21st century, fitting a broader trend toward virtue and intention names — alongside Honor, Story, True, and Reign.
Overall data confidence 92%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LegaciLegacie

Nicknames

LegaAce

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Legacy…

Destiny— shares the same aspirational word-name quality and the same three-syllable sound
Serenity— fellow multi-syllable virtue/intention name from the same contemporary naming movement
Honor— shares the intention-name tradition and the same sense of purposeful moral meaning
Reign— another contemporary aspirational word-name with the same bold statement quality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Legacy mean?

Legacy means that which is left behind or enduring impact, from Medieval Latin legacia meaning bequest. It expresses hope for a life of lasting meaning.

How do you pronounce Legacy?

It is said LEG-uh-see /ˈlɛɡ.ə.si/ — three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Legacy a popular baby name?

Yes — Legacy has entered the U.S. top 200 girls' names and has been one of the faster-rising word-names of the 2010s–2020s.

Is Legacy a boy or girl name?

Legacy is used almost exclusively as a girls' name in the United States.