how to add text for display on map to a geojson object in leaflet

I was looking for the same question recently and just implemented it yesterday based on a posting in the google group. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/leaflet-js/sA2HnU5W9Fw

Thanks to Adrian for the original code sample.

Here's the solution:

Extend the following class as below:

<script>

    L.LabelOverlay = L.Class.extend({
        initialize: function(/*LatLng*/ latLng, /*String*/ label, options) {
            this._latlng = latLng;
            this._label = label;
            L.Util.setOptions(this, options);
        },
        options: {
            offset: new L.Point(0, 2)
        },
        onAdd: function(map) {
            this._map = map;
            if (!this._container) {
                this._initLayout();
            }
            map.getPanes().overlayPane.appendChild(this._container);
            this._container.innerHTML = this._label;
            map.on('viewreset', this._reset, this);
            this._reset();
        },
        onRemove: function(map) {
            map.getPanes().overlayPane.removeChild(this._container);
            map.off('viewreset', this._reset, this);
        },
        _reset: function() {
            var pos = this._map.latLngToLayerPoint(this._latlng);
            var op = new L.Point(pos.x + this.options.offset.x, pos.y - this.options.offset.y);
            L.DomUtil.setPosition(this._container, op);
        },
        _initLayout: function() {
            this._container = L.DomUtil.create('div', 'leaflet-label-overlay');
        }
    });   

</script>

Furthermore add this css:

<style>
    .leaflet-popup-close-button {
        display:none;
    }

    .leaflet-label-overlay {
        line-height:0px;
        margin-top: 9px;
        position:absolute;
    }
</style>

And then display the text labels as below:

<script>
    var map = L.map('map').setView([51.898712, 6.7307100000001], 4);

    // add markers
    // ...

    // add text labels:
    var labelLocation = new L.LatLng(51.329219337279405, 10.454119349999928);
    var labelTitle = new L.LabelOverlay(labelLocation, '<b>GERMANY</b>');
    map.addLayer(labelTitle);


    var labelLocation2 = new L.LatLng(47.71329162782909, 13.34573480000006);
    var labelTitle2 = new L.LabelOverlay(labelLocation2, '<b>AUSTRIA</b>');
    map.addLayer(labelTitle2);

    // In order to prevent the text labels to "jump" when zooming in and out,
    // in Google Chrome, I added this event handler:

    map.on('movestart', function () {
        map.removeLayer(labelTitle);
        map.removeLayer(labelTitle2);
    });
    map.on('moveend', function () {
        map.addLayer(labelTitle);
        map.addLayer(labelTitle2);
    });
</script>

Result:

I'm adopt this code for current version.

    <style>
        .leaflet-popup-close-button {
            display:none;
        }

        .leaflet-label-overlay {
            line-height:0px;
            margin-top: 9px;
            position:absolute;
        }
    </style>    

    <script>
        L.LabelOverlay = L.Layer.extend({
            initialize: function(/*LatLng*/ latLng, /*String*/ label, options) {
                this._latlng = latLng;
                this._label = label;
                L.Util.setOptions(this, options);
            },
            options: {
                offset: new L.Point(0, 2)
            },
            onAdd: function(map) {
                this._map = map;
                if (!this._container) {
                    this._initLayout();
                }
                map.getPanes().popupPane.appendChild(this._container);
                this._container.innerHTML = this._label;
                map.on('movestart', this._update_start, this);
                map.on('moveend', this._update_end, this);
                this._update_end();
            },
            onRemove: function(map) {
                map.getPanes().popupPane.removeChild(this._container);
                map.off('movestart', this._update_start, this);
                map.off('moveend', this._update_end, this);
            },
            _update_start: function(){
                L.DomUtil.setPosition(this._container, 0);
            },
            _update_end: function() {
                var pos = this._map.latLngToLayerPoint(this._latlng);
                var op = new L.Point(pos.x + this.options.offset.x, pos.y - this.options.offset.y);
                L.DomUtil.setPosition(this._container, op);
            },
            _initLayout: function() {
                this._container = L.DomUtil.create('div', 'leaflet-label-overlay');
            }
        });   
    </script>   

Label Overlay in Leaflet Using Marker Class and DivIcon Class With 'html' Property

Personally, I use this method to implement text labels on the map. This way I get to use all of the existing Marker Class methods and events with no extra effort. It's a bit like just using a text label in replace of an icon, I guess.

        var textLatLng = [35.1436, -111.5632];  
        var myTextLabel = L.marker(textLatLng, {
            icon: L.divIcon({
                className: 'text-labels',   // Set class for CSS styling
                html: 'A Text Label'
            }),
            zIndexOffset: 1000     // Make appear above other map features
        });

My CSS looks like:

        .text-labels {
            font-size: 2em;
            font-weight: 700;
            color: white;
            /* Use color, background, set margins for offset, etc */
        }

Also, I haven't explored this yet, but maybe you can add a png to the CSS and then offset the text, so that you can wrap an icon and label in the same Marker object using the Leaflet DivIcon class?? This would be easy with a div shape (e.g. box, circle), but I'm not sure about adding a png to the CSS for the Marker object - because I am not a CSS guru by any means.