Leni is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #1179 in 2025 with 197 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2023 with 201 births ranking #1197. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 8,159 girls born was named Leni. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Leni is a cheerful, compact nickname-style name used in several European traditions. Its exact meaning depends on the longer name behind it, though it is often linked to the Helen family and light-related roots.
Once mainly a pet form, Leni now often stands alone as a given name. Its rise fits the broader modern love of short, warm names that still feel established.