Leni
How to say it: LEN-ee · /ˈlɛni/
German diminutive of Helena or Magdalena, meaning 'light' or 'tower' - known via Leni Riefenstahl and Leni Klum.
Leni was the 866th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 197 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up 6.7-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #559 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #866 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 197 |
| Share of births | 1 in 8,588 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | ×6.7 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #559 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 30 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Climbing steadily, Leni is enjoying its strongest showing in the 2020s. The next few years are likely to carry it higher still.
What goes with it
Bright and lilting across two syllables, Leni sounds soft and light. Heidi makes a natural companion.
Honouring a Leni in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Leni is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Leni
- Leni Larsen Kaurin (born 1981)Norwegian footballer
- Leni Shida (born 1994)Ugandan sprinter
- Leni Parker (born 1966)Canadian actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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