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The short answer
Leighton is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Variant of Layton. It jumped in popularity as a feminine name after 2007, when actress Leighton Meester (1986-) began appearing on the television series Gossip Girl." It ranked #342 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, variant of Layton. It jumped in popularity as a feminine name after 2007, when actress Leighton Meester (1986-) began appearing on the television series Gossip Girl. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Leighton ranked #342 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #342 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Leighton in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leighton mean?
Behind the Name does not give Leighton a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: variant of Layton.
Is Leighton a popular name?
Leighton ranked #342 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Leighton a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Leighton appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine & masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Leighton — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
