Bentleigh is an uncommon given name of English origin. The name Bentleigh is derived from the Old English words "beon" meaning "to be" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing". Therefore, the name Bentleigh can be interpreted as meaning " clearing where one lives" or " settlement in a woodland clearing".
The name Bentleigh has its roots in England, specifically in the county of Sussex. It is believed to have originated from a place called Bentilee, which was located in the parish of Battle in East Sussex. The name Bentilee is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, an extensive survey of England commissioned by King William I.
The name Bentleigh was traditionally used as a surname before it started being used as a given name in the late 20th century. It is still relatively uncommon today, but it has been gaining popularity in recent years, particularly in English-speaking countries such as Australia and the United States.
There are no specific stories or historical figures associated with the name Bentleigh. However, it is possible that people named Bentleigh have made significant contributions to their communities throughout history, despite the rarity of the name. Today, the name Bentleigh continues to be a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking for an uncommon yet meaningful name for their child.
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Bentleigh in the United States from 2004 to 2023. Over this period, there has been a total of 539 babies named Bentleigh.
From 2004 to 2010, the number of births with this name varied between 5 and 48 per year, showing some fluctuation but generally an increasing trend during these years. The peak was reached in 2010 with 48 births, after which there was a significant drop.
From 2011 to 2015, the number of Bentleigh births remained relatively stable, ranging between 39 and 60 per year. This suggests that during this period, the popularity of the name Bentleigh stabilized at a higher level compared to earlier years.
However, from 2016 onwards, there has been a decline in the number of babies named Bentleigh, with the annual figure falling below 40 for each year until reaching a low of 19 births in both 2022 and 2023. This indicates that over this period, the name Bentleigh has become less popular among parents choosing names for their newborns.
Despite this recent decline, it's worth noting that the total number of babies named Bentleigh remains considerable, with nearly 540 such births recorded over nearly two decades. This suggests that while the popularity of this name may have ebbed and flowed over time, it has nevertheless maintained a consistent presence among American parents' choices for their children's names.