Leighton
Boy name · #1057 in 2025 · Rare
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. 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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Leighton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". 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
State-level data for Leighton is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it 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.