Leighton
Boy name · #1057 in 2025 · Uniqueness 75/100
Leighton is currently the #1057 boy name in the United States — 207 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #864, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,696 boys born in 2025 was named Leighton.
Babies named Leighton per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 132-year story
Leighton first appears in the Social Security records in 1893, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2019, when 366 boys were named Leighton — good for #692 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Leighton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Leighton in class?
Leighton scores 75 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Leighton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Leighton is most common
Geography matters for names, and Leighton is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Leightons were TX (21), OH (10), CA (9), PA (9), MO (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Leighton
Statistically, parents drawn to Leighton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Langston, Layton, Klayton, Hampton, and Houston.
LangstonLaytonKlaytonHamptonHoustonCashtonStrattonMaxton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Leighton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 207 | #1056 |
| 2024 | 213 | #1042 |
| 2023 | 232 | #966 |
| 2022 | 302 | #820 |
| 2021 | 281 | #845 |
| 2020 | 327 | #743 |
| 2019 | 366 | #692 |
| 2018 | 269 | #830 |
| 2017 | 238 | #901 |
| 2016 | 268 | #842 |
| 2015 | 261 | #864 |
| 2014 | 241 | #893 |
| 2013 | 184 | #1043 |
| 2012 | 184 | #1044 |
| 2011 | 218 | #922 |
| 2010 | 217 | #928 |
| 2009 | 175 | #1063 |
| 2008 | 159 | #1142 |
| 2007 | 140 | #1255 |
| 2006 | 146 | #1154 |
| 2005 | 128 | #1233 |
| 2004 | 99 | #1425 |
| 2003 | 118 | #1230 |
| 2002 | 128 | #1124 |
| 2001 | 110 | #1216 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leighton a popular boy name?
Leighton ranked #1057 among boys in 2025 with 207 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #864.
When was the name Leighton most popular?
Leighton peaked in 2019, when 366 American boys received the name (ranked #692 that year). Since 2019 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Leighton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,696 newborn American boys was named Leighton. It scores 75/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.