Given name & surname
Leanna
“the shining light”
In Gaelic use, Leanna carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Gaelic use, Leanna carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Where it comes from
Leanna is a form of Helen. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Leanna is used as a form of Helen.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Leanna is a form of Helen. The history of Helen gives this family its wider story. Helen’s historical associations include the mother of the Emperor Constantine.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Leanna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 25,937
- 5 boys · 25,932 girls
- Most popular year
- 1990
- 675 babies
- 2025
- 300
- #890 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 300 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 890 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 675 in 1990. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (49). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 20,013 as a first name in 2020; 288 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Leanna’s family of names
Leanna is a form of Helen. Leanna has a related form in Leanne. Leanna has a related form in Leann.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 18
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Leanna
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Leanna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kara
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>99% girls
Riane
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1% boys · 99% girls
Boudicca
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ᚐᚃᚔᚈᚈᚑᚏᚔᚌᚓᚄ
“life, age”
>99% girls
Tiana
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>99% girls
Katarina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Orla
“the golden queen”
>99% girls
Kendra
“having royal power; from the high hill” · “a royal ruler”
>99% girls