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Home › Baby Names Directory › Leiby

Leiby

♂ Boy

Pronounced LAY-bee /ˈleɪ.bi/Medium

Meaning: Yiddish pet form of Leib, 'a lion' (a translation of the Hebrew Aryeh/Yehuda, the lion of Judah); also linked to 'love' (lieb); routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A little lion; beloved: Leiby pets the Yiddish Leib — 'a lion' (and 'beloved'). Warm, endearing, and sturdy (said 'LAY-bee').
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Origin MediumYiddish, Hebrew
MeaningYiddish pet form of Leib, 'a lion' (a translation of the Hebrew Aryeh/Yehuda, the lion of Judah); also linked to 'love' (lieb); routes layered
U.S. rank (2025)#4005 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births27 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 171

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520002025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Leiby is a Yiddish pet form of Leib, 'a lion' (the Yiddish translation of the Hebrew Aryeh, the lion of the tribe of Judah), which also echoes lieb, German/Yiddish 'love, beloved' (routes layered, which we note). A warm, endearing, sturdy name in Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish communities (said 'LAY-bee').

In the U.S. it appears in Orthodox communities. Rare, a-little-lion-or-beloved at the root, and endearing.

Did you know? Leib means 'a lion' in Yiddish (a translation of the Hebrew Aryeh, the lion of Judah) — and echoes 'lieb', 'love, beloved' — Leiby is its affectionate pet form, warm and endearing (the routes are layered, which we note).
Overall data confidence 65%
References — Leib — routes layered

Variations

LeibLeibelAryeh

Nicknames

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If you like Leiby…

Leib— the root name
Aryeh— the Hebrew 'lion' name
Yehuda— the lion of Judah's name
Toby— echoes that soft -by sound
Jacoby— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Leiby

By themeuncertainhebrewyiddishanimal-name
By meaningLoveLion

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Leiby mean?

Leiby pets the Yiddish Leib — 'a lion' (and echoes 'beloved'); the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Leiby?

It's said LAY-bee /ˈleɪ.bi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Leiby a boy or girl name?

Leiby is a boy's name.

How popular is Leiby?

Leiby is a rare name, used in Jewish communities.

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