Leola

Meaning & origin

Leola is a name that peaked in the early 20th century, reaching its highest rank of 196 in 1905. Since then, its usage declined steeply, and by the 1970s it had become uncommon. In the 2020s, however, the name has shown signs of a modest revival, with a trajectory described as rising since 2000. According to Social Security data, Leola was given to approximately 1 in 94,545 babies in 2025, placing it at rank 6,546. The name is almost exclusively feminine, though historical records show rare male usage in the 1880s. Its top popularity years align with the peak of names like Leona and Ola, suggesting it was part of a fashionable pattern of combining or embellishing existing names with the -ola suffix. The name carries a vintage charm that appeals to parents seeking an overlooked classic from the early 1900s.

Leola likely originated as a feminine elaboration of Leo, the Latin word for 'lion', combining Leona (feminine of Leo) with the suffix -ola. It was particularly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, especially in the South. The name saw a peak in 1905 at rank 196, but declined sharply after the 1920s and is now quite rare, with a recent revival only among a small number of families.