Given name & surname
Leni
“the shining light”
In German use, Leni is an affectionate form of Lena. In German use, Lena carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Leni is an affectionate form of Lena. In German use, Lena carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German use, Leni is used as an affectionate form of Lena. In German use, Leni is used as an affectionate form of Lene.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1938. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Leni through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,962
- 27 boys · 1,935 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 208 babies
- 2025
- 197
- #1,179 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +115%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 197 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,179 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 116.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (17). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,545 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Leni’s family of names
In German usage, Leni is a diminutive of Lena. In Greek usage, Leni is a transliteration of Λένη. Leni is an affectionate form of Lena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Leni has relatives in 3 languages.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
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 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Leni
- Leni JunkerGerman sprinter (1905–1997)
- Leni SchmidtGerman sprinter (1906-1985)
- Leni Lohmarswimmer (1914–2006)
- Leni Larsen KaurinNorwegian footballerborn 1981
- Leni Alexandercomposer (1924–2005)
- Leni ShidaUgandan sprinterborn 1994
- Leni ParkerCanadian actressborn 1966
- Leni BjörklundSwedish politicianborn 1944
- Leni SternGerman guitarist and singerborn 1952
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Leni, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lennon
“daughter of love” · “son of love”
26% boys · 74% girls
Leilani
“child of heaven; adorned with heavenly flowers”
>99% girls
Leia
“child of heaven; adorned with heavenly flowers” · “languid”
>99% girls
Sunny
“of the sun; one who is brilliant and cheerful”
21% boys · 79% girls
Emmy
“rival”
>99% girls
Lilith
“woman of the night”
>99% girls
Lorelai
Lorelai is a feminine given name from German.
>99% girls
Malani
>99% girls