Lei
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Exalted, defender
Origin: Arabic/Greek (variant)
Popularity: Ranked #16279 in 2025 with 5 babies born.
History: A variant or related form of Aleia. Shares the meaning 'Exalted, defender.'
Similar names: leiah, lehi, leia, leib, leiby, leica, leidy, leif
Name length: 3 letters
How common is Lei? About 1 in 665,700 babies born in 2025 were named Lei, or roughly 0 per day in the United States.
Explore more baby names at BabyNa.me — 29,000+ names with meanings, origins, and popularity trends.
Loading name...
Frequently asked about Lei
What does the name Lei mean?
Lei means “Exalted, defender” from Arabic/Greek (variant) roots.
What is the origin of the name Lei?
Lei has Arabic/Greek (variant) origin. The traditional meaning is “Exalted, defender”.
How popular is Lei?
Lei ranked #14942 in 2025 — given to 5 babies that year.
When was Lei most popular?
Lei peaked in 1960 with 25 babies registered that year.
Is Lei a boy or girl name?
Lei is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Leis in registered births are female.
Is the name Lei rising or falling in popularity?
Lei has fallen 1363 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #13579 in 2020 to #14942 in 2025.
How long has Lei been recorded?
Lei appears in birth records across 70 years — from 1937 through 2025.