The name Leif is a given name of Old Norse origin. It is derived from the Old Norse word "leifr" which means "descendant" or "heir". The name was popular among the Vikings and was used throughout Scandinavia, particularly in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, during the 8th to 11th centuries.

Leif is the name of one of the most famous Vikings in history, Leif Erikson, who was the first European to set foot on the North American continent around the year 1000 CE. He was the son of Erik the Red, a Norwegian explorer who established the first European settlement in Greenland. Leif Erikson's voyage to North America is recorded in the Icelandic Sagas, which are historical narratives written in the 13th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was Leif Ericson, a Swedish explorer and writer who lived from 1829 to 1896. He was one of the first Europeans to explore the interior of Western Australia and wrote several books about his adventures.

In the realm of literature, Leif features as the name of a character in the epic poem "The Saga of Burnt Njal", which is considered one of the greatest works of medieval Icelandic literature and was composed around the year 1300.

Leif was also the name of a Norwegian king who ruled from 1299 to 1319. Known as Haakon V Magnusson, he was the son of King Magnus III and was given the nickname "Leif" which means "the beloved".

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Leif Arnesson, a Norwegian chieftain and explorer who lived in the 9th century. He is mentioned in the Icelandic Sagas as one of the first Norwegians to explore and settle in Iceland.