Leah (English)

Where does "Leah" come from?

The English name 'Leah' comes from the Hebrew name 'לֵאָה'[1]. In Hebrew, this name is derived from the Proto-Semitic form '*layʾ-at- ~ laʾay-at-', meaning 'cow', which may stem from the verbal root '*l-ʾ-y', meaning 'to be strong, mighty'[2].

Open questions

• The derivation of the Proto-Semitic form meaning cow from the verbal root meaning to be strong or mighty is noted as a possible connection rather than a confirmed one. [2]

Full etymology tree

• Leah (English), 'The elder daughter of Laban, sister to Rachel, and first wife of Jacob.'
  • borrowed לאה (Le'a) (Hebrew), 'Leah'
    • inherited *layʾ-at- (Proto-Semitic)
      • derived *l-ʾ-y (Proto-Semitic)

Related words

• Rachel (English)
• Laban (English)
• Israel (English)

Sources

1. Leah (English) - Wiktionary
2. לאה (Le'a) (Hebrew) - Wiktionary

Updated October 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris