Leif vs Neil

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Leif

Boy #926 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"heir, descendant, beloved"

Origin: Old Norse

Cultural Roots

Scandinavian Norwegian Swedish Danish Icelandic

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#926
Total SSA Count
250
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Leif →

Neil

Boy #866 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"cloud"

Origin: Old Irish

Cultural Roots

Irish Scottish English Scandinavian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#866
Total SSA Count
278
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Neil →

Popularity Comparison

Leif Rank #926
Neil Rank #866

Neil is more popular, ranked #866 vs #926 for Leif.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Leif ___

  • Leif Erik
  • Leif Magnus
  • Leif Anders
  • Leif James
  • Leif Thomas
  • Leif William

Neil ___

  • Neil James
  • Neil Thomas
  • Neil Patrick
  • Neil Robert
  • Neil Alan
  • Neil Gordon

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Leif

Signe Astrid Bjorn Ingrid Gunnar

If you choose Neil

Colin Brendan Siobhan Fiona Sean

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Leif or Neil more popular?

Neil is more popular, ranked #866 compared to Leif at #926 in the United States.

What do Leif and Neil mean?

Leif means "heir, descendant, beloved" (Old Norse origin). Neil means "cloud" (Old Irish origin).

Are Leif and Neil boy or girl names?

Leif is primarily a boy name. Neil is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Leif ← Full profile: Neil Browse all baby names