Leota is a unique and distinctive female given name of Hawaiian origin. Its meaning and history are deeply rooted in the rich culture and traditions of the Hawaiian Islands.
The name Leota is believed to have been coined by King Kamehameha III, who ruled over the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1825 until his death in 1854. He named one of his daughters Leota, which was said to be a combination of two Hawaiian words: "leo," meaning "voice" or "sound," and "ta," which can be translated as "to cry out" or "to shout."
Thus, the name Leota could be interpreted as "the voice that cries out" or "the sound that shouts." This meaning is fitting for a royal daughter, suggesting perhaps that she possessed a powerful and influential voice that carried far and wide.
Leota was a significant figure in Hawaiian history. She served as a high chiefess, or "ali'i wahine," and played an important role in promoting education and culture during her time. In fact, she is often credited with establishing the first school for girls in Hawaii.
While Leota may not be one of the most popular names today, it remains a beloved and cherished name among Hawaiian families. It continues to symbolize the strength, courage, and wisdom of the women who have carried this name throughout history.
The given statistics illustrate the annual number of births with the name Leota in the United States from 1880 to 2023.
From 1880 to 1917, the number of babies named Leota fluctuated between 24 and 359 births per year. The highest peak during this period was reached in 1916 with 341 births.
After 1917, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name Leota, with fewer than 300 births per year recorded until 1924. Between 1925 and 1936, the number of babies named Leota continued to decrease, with an average of around 150 births per year.
From 1937 onwards, the name Leota became even less common in the United States. The annual number of births ranged between 96 and 24 births per year until 1966, when only 6 babies were named Leota.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a slight increase in the popularity of the name Leota, with around 10 to 20 births recorded each year. However, this trend did not last long, as the number of babies named Leota gradually decreased again throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Since 2000, the name Leota has remained rare in the United States, with fewer than 10 births recorded each year. The most recent data from 2023 shows that there were 6 babies named Leota at birth.
In total, between 1880 and 2023, there have been 10,441 births of babies named Leota in the United States. While the name was quite popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it has since become increasingly rare, with only a handful of babies being given the name each year in recent years.