What does Leif mean?
Leif means “heir” or “descendant” in Old Norse.
What does Odin mean?
Odin is the chief Norse god; the name is linked to “frenzy,” “fury” and “inspiration.”
Leif vs Odin
Which is more popular?
Odin is more popular than Leif today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
| Leif | Odin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Heir, descendant | Frenzy, inspiration |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | LAYF | OH-din |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1912 | 1884 |
| Peak year | 2022 (290) | 2022 (1,023) |
| In 2025 | 257 | 604 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Leif
Odin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Leif | Odin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,542 | 5,176 |
| 2010s | 1,971 | 6,435 |
| 2000s | 1,329 | 1,209 |
| 1990s | 878 | 118 |
| 1980s | 1,231 | 67 |
| 1970s | 1,158 | 66 |
| 1960s | 886 | 18 |
| 1950s | 442 | 0 |
| 1940s | 196 | 11 |
| 1930s | 111 | 12 |
| 1920s | 126 | 66 |
| 1910s | 127 | 88 |
| 1900s | 0 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leif or Odin more popular?
Odin is more popular than Leif today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
What is the difference between Leif and Odin?
Leif means Heir, descendant (Norse origin), while Odin means Frenzy, inspiration (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Leif or Odin?
In US records, Leif first appears in 1912 and Odin in 1884, so Odin has the longer recorded history.