Leland is a name of Old English origin, derived from the place name "Lilande," which means "land clearing by the wood." It was initially used as a surname before becoming a given name in the 19th century. The name Leland is typically associated with the American writer and poet Henry Timrod, who went by this moniker.
The name Leland has experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century and a half. It appears to have been moderately popular during the early 20th century, with around 5-10 births per year from 1921 to 1943. However, it gained considerable traction in recent years, with a steady increase since 2015, reaching an all-time high of 21 births in 2022. Overall, there have been a total of 525 recorded births with the name Leland from 1884 to 2023.