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Leighton

Boy / Girl name · 432 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Leighton: 432 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 31 births in 2012.

With crisp origins in Old English, Leighton derives from the words *lēac* (leek) and *tūn* (settlement), meaning "leek garden" or "herb farm" – a practical, earthy name rooted in rural life. It functions as both a surname and a given name, and has been borne in modern times by actress Leighton Meester of *Gossip Girl* fame, alongside American football player Leighton Vander Esch. Placewise, several English villages share the name, including Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, though their etymologies sometimes trace to *leah-tūn* ("settlement by a clearing"). The name also shares linguistic DNA with the word "leek," that beloved national emoji of Wales. As a Scottish choice, Leighton feels fresh yet grounded – it consistently appears on the charts without ever cracking the top 100, quietly popular as a gender-neutral option in both the US and UK.