unisex name · in the US
Leyton
LAY-tun (English)
- Origin English
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 5,174
Leyton is a boy's name of English origin meaning "settlement on the River Lea." It comes from the district of Leyton in east London, and in surname form it also absorbed the place name Leighton, a separate name often explained as "leek town."
- Leyton is a name of English origin.
- Peaked in 2010, when 169 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 38,108 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1961.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Leyton Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1960s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 81 |
| 2000s | 999 |
| 2010s | 1,342 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 540 |
What Leyton Means
Leyton means a town on the River Lea. Its first half names the river and its second is the Old English word for a settlement, so the name is a plain description of a place.
Where Leyton Comes From
The London district takes its name from the River Lea, with the ending -ton from Old English tūn, a farm or settlement. It was long known as Low Leyton, a form used until the early twentieth century. A second source is Leighton, a place name repeated in several English counties, usually explained as an Old English compound of lēac, leek, and tūn, a kitchen garden or herb farm. Because the surnames merged in spelling, Leyton can reflect either one. It moved into first-name use during the twentieth century, following Clayton and Peyton, and it's recently found some use for girls.
Leyton in Use
The name's sporting association is with Leyton Orient, the London football club. Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt spells his first name with a double L, so the two are often confused.
How Popular Is Leyton?
In 2025, Leyton was given to 87 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Leyton Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Leyton
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Leyton Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Leyton over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Leyton is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 21% girls · 1,000 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 0% girls · 360 babies
- France Boys' 0% girls · 90 babies
- Scotland Boys' 0% girls · 88 babies
How to Say Leyton
- English LAY-tun
Leyton in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Leyton
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Leyton — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Leyton
What does the name Leyton mean?
Settlement on the River Lea, from the London district of Leyton.
Is Leyton a boy's or a girl's name?
It's mainly a boy's name, with growing use for girls.
What is the difference between Leyton, Layton and Leighton?
They're close spellings of English place-based surnames, and they're often used interchangeably.
How popular is the name Leyton?
In 2025, Leyton was given to 87 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
How many syllables are in Leyton?
Leyton has 2 syllables.
When was Leyton most popular?
Leyton peaked in 2010, when 169 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is Leyton a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Leyton currently ranks #1,312 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.