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Home › Baby Names Directory › Leman

Leman

♂ Boy

Pronounced LEE-muhn /ˈliː.mən/Medium

Meaning: Leman was given as an American first name in the early twentieth century, most likely from a surname. The English surname Leman goes back to Middle English lemman ('sweetheart, beloved'), and the given name may also have been felt as a form of Lyman ('man from the meadow'). Both readings are plausible, so the meaning is not fixed.Low

In 30 seconds: Leman is a surname-turned-first-name, possibly Middle English for 'sweetheart' or a form of Lyman. It was always rare (said LEE-muhn).
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningLeman was given as an American first name in the early twentieth century, most likely from a surname. The English surname Leman goes back to Middle English lemman ('sweetheart, beloved'), and the given name may also have been felt as a form of Lyman ('man from the meadow'). Both readings are plausible, so the meaning is not fixed.
U.S. rank (1997)#10184 ↘ Falling
1997 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1937
Total births (all-time)≈ 625

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193719131997

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

Leman appears as an American given name from about 1913, most often in the South and drawing on a family surname. Its modest high came in the late 1930s, after which it slowly faded. It was never common, given to only a couple dozen boys a year even at its peak.

Read either as an old word for 'sweetheart' or as a cousin of Lyman, Leman today sounds firmly like an early-twentieth-century name. It has not revived, and its closeness in sound to the word 'lemon' has kept it from returning as a fresh choice.

Did you know? The surname behind Leman comes from Middle English lemman, an old word for a sweetheart or beloved - a warm meaning for a plain-looking name.
Overall data confidence 40%
References - Leman — Surname given name; Middle English lemman 'sweetheart' or variant of Lyman

Variations

LemonLehmanLyman

Nicknames

LeeLem

Famous Bearers

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If you like Leman…

Lyman— a name Leman was often felt to echo
Lemuel— a like biblical two-syllable Le- name
Leon— a same-era short Le- boys' name
Layton— a surname-style name of the same period

Explore names like Leman

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Leman mean?

It is a surname-based given name, likely from Middle English lemman ('sweetheart') or felt as a form of Lyman; the meaning is not fixed.

How do you pronounce Leman?

It's said LEE-muhn /ˈliː.mən/, two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Leman a boy or girl name?

Leman is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Leman?

It has always been rare, an early-twentieth-century surname name given to only a couple dozen boys a year at its peak.

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