Declining since 2021, #662 for girls today.
Popularity of Legacy since 1994
Babies named Legacy per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 101 | 0 |
| 2000s | 277 | 30 |
| 2010s | 1,923 | 862 |
| 2020s | 3,473 | 1,817 |
Meaning & origin
Legacy is a modern word name that entered the U.S. baby name pool only in the mid-1990s, first recorded in 1994. It reached its peak popularity in 2021, and as of 2025 it ranks 662nd with about 1 in 3,747 newborns receiving the name. Its trajectory has been falling since 2021, suggesting the trend may have crested. The name is most common in the southern states, with Georgia, Louisiana, and Arkansas leading. Legacy reflects the 21st-century fashion for aspirational vocabulary names and is used for both boys and girls.
Legacy is a modern word name, derived directly from the English vocabulary word 'legacy,' which itself comes from Latin 'legatia' (bequest). It began appearing on U.S. birth certificates in the 1990s and gained traction in the early 21st century, likely influenced by aspirational naming trends.
Where Legacy is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Leg, Lee, Lecky
Sibling names for Legacy
Names that share Legacy's style, for a brother or sister.
