National Lei Day - Wondering what National Lei Day is? We have the answer for you!

National Lei Day 2024 – November 11, 2024

National Lei Day is celebrated on November 11 every year. Lei is traditionally a gender-neutral name of Chinese origin that means ‘flower bud’ or ‘thunder.’ It is also a Hawaiian name that means ‘child’ or ‘string of flowers.’ Lei is also the romanization of the Chinese surname ‘雷’ which is the 69th name of the “Hundred Family Surnames” or “Bai Jia Xing,” a traditional Chinese composition. The name is also said to be modified from the name of Lei Zu, the principal wife of emperor Huang Di and the first woman to be designated as empress.

History of National Lei Day

In Hawaiian, Lei can be used as a proper name and as a short for other names, such as Kalei. In Chinese, it is considered an ancient name, dated before the Xia Dynasty which lasted from 2070 B.C to 1600 B.C.Lei Zu or Leizu was a legendary Chinese empress and the wife of the Yellow Emperor. Her mythos is intertwined with the discovery of sericulture and the invention of the silk loom in the 27th century B.C. As per legend, the empress discovered silkworms while she was having afternoon tea, and a cocoon fell into her tea and subsequently unraveled. She soon convinced the emperor to give her a grove of mulberry trees where she would go on to domesticate silkworms. Leizu is credited with the invention of the first silk loom. She soon shared her discovery, and the information quickly spread across the land. She was given the title ‘Silkworm Mother.’Lei Zu was known to have had two sons with the Yellow Emperor names Shaohao and Changyi. The latter went on to become the father of the legendary Chinese emperor Zhuanxu. In some legends, Shaohao and Changyi were bypassed, and Zhuanxu was made heir to the throne by the Yellow Emperor. Though the authenticity of the claims of her discovery and invention are not entirely verifiable, Leizu continues to be a popular object of worship in modern China.

National Lei Day timeline

5000 B.C.
China is Settled

Villages first begin to spring up along the Yellow River.

3400 B.C.
First Recorded Name

The earliest ever known name, Kushim, is recorded on a clay tablet.

27th Century B.C.
Leizu

Lei Zu becomes empress, discovers sericulture, and invents the silk loom.

4th Century A.D.
Hawaii

Hawaii is first settled.

National Lei Day FAQs

Is Lei a first name?

It has been recorded both as a first and as a last name.

How do I pronounce Lei?

In Hawaiian, you pronounce it as leɪ, and in Chinese, léi.

Is Lei a good name?

Definitely! Lei has a nice meaning and is attached to very well accomplished people.

National Lei Day Activities

  1. Appreciate a Lei

    If you have a wonderful Lei in your life, go appreciate them. They will love getting some attention.

  2. Look up the etymology of your name

    Your name is bound to be interesting, so look up the origin of your own name. You may find something cool.

  3. Read about Leizu

    Read up about Leizu and her impressive life. You can use her legacy as an inspiration to do something new.

5 Interesting Facts About Hawaii

  1. Invention

    Surfing was invented in Hawaii.

  2. Largest dormant volcano

    Hawaii is home to the world’s largest dormant volcano, Mount Haleakala.

  3. Official languages

    Hawaii has two official languages, English and Hawaiian.

  4. Hello and goodbye

    The Hawaiian word ‘aloha’ means both ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye.’

  5. Rabies-free

    Hawaii is rabies-free and very strict about its quarantine procedures to keep it that way.

Why We Love National Lei Day

  1. It’s a fun history lesson

    Names have a fascinating history. Learning about Lei is especially fun!

  2. It reminds us of words long passed

    Names like Lei can be seen as fossils. They are reminders of words long passed out of the popular lexicon and changing traditions.

  3. It’s fun to appreciate people

    We love appreciating people. We are definitely ready to show up for National Lei Day!

National Lei Day dates

Year Date Day
2022 November 11 Friday
2023 November 11 Saturday
2024 November 11 Monday
2025 November 11 Tuesday
2026 November 11 Wednesday