"lion-hearted, brave"
Origin: Latin
Language: English
Leo
Pronunciation: [ l-EE-oh ]
Does Leo flow with your last name?
The lion's name — regal, roaring, and timeless
English
Italian
German
French
American
Spanish
Bold
Strong
Vintage
Playful
Classic
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Meaning & Origin
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Leo
See all →What the Leo report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Leo the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Leo
Leo is the Latin word for lion and was widely used in the Roman Empire as a given name. It derives from the ancient Greek leon, also meaning lion. The lion as a symbol of royalty, courage, and strength made Leo a natural name for leaders throughout history — 13 popes bore this name, as did several Byzantine emperors. Leo is also a major constellation and the fifth sign of the zodiac.
Leo has been rising steadily across the English-speaking world since the 2000s, becoming one of the trendiest boys' names of the 2010s. In the UK and Australia it reached the top 5. In the US it climbed from outside the top 100 in 2000 to inside the top 20 by 2020. Its combination of brevity, strength, and cultural breadth makes it nearly ideal for contemporary parents.
The lion is the symbol of England, Scotland, and numerous European royal houses. Pope Leo the Great stopped Attila the Hun from sacking Rome in 452 CE. Leo Tolstoy is considered one of the greatest novelists in history. As an astrological sign, Leo is associated with leadership and charisma.
Historical Record
Leo first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 135,900 babies have been named Leo in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Leo is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #24 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- 13 popes have been named Leo, more than any papal name other than John and Gregory
- Leo Tolstoy wrote War and Peace, often considered one of the greatest novels ever written
- Leonardo DiCaprio was named after the artist Leonardo da Vinci, with Leo as his everyday name
Leo in Other Languages
Greek
Λέων
Arabic
ليو
French
Léon
German
Leo
Italian
Leone
Russian
Лев
Spanish
León
Popularity Over Time
#24
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Leo
L
Leo Messi
Athlete
1987
Argentine professional footballer widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, eight-time Ballon d'Or winn...
Argentine professional footballer widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner
L
Leonardo DiCaprio
Actor
1974
Academy Award-winning American actor known as Leo, star of Titanic, The Revenant, and countless acclaimed films
L
Leo Tolstoy
Writer
1828
Russian author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, widely considered one of the greatest novelists in history
L
Leo McGarry Fictional
Other
The wise and principled White House Chief of Staff in The West Wing, played by John Spencer
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
River
Boy
"flowing body of water, stream"
#112
Brayden
Boy
"broad valley, broad hillside"
#190
Everett
Boy
"strong as a boar"
#85
Jasper
Boy
"spotted stone"
#133
Luka
Boy
"man from Lucania"
#94
Compare Leo with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #24
- Total SSA Count
- 7,793
- Cultural Origins
- English Italian German French American Spanish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, Italian heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Leo
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Leo fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Girl Name
Leo is also used as a girl name, ranked #6600.
View Leo as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Leo →Compare Leo with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Leo
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Leo and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Leo sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
River
Boy
Old French origin
"flowing body of water, stream"
#112 in US
Brayden
Boy
Old English origin
"broad valley, broad hillside"
#190 in US
Everett
Boy
Germanic (eber + hart) origin
"strong as a boar"
#85 in US
Jasper
Boy
Greek via Hebrew origin
"spotted stone"
#133 in US
Luka
Boy
Greek Loukas origin
"man from Lucania"
#94 in US
Jesus
Boy
Greek via Latin origin
"God saves"
#164 in US
Abraham
Boy
Hebrew (earlier form Abram) origin
"exalted father"
#204 in US
Kai
Boy
Old Norse origin
"rejoice, keeper of the keys"
#76 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Leo's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leo
What does the name Leo mean?
"lion-hearted, brave" (from Latin). Leo is the Latin word for lion and was widely used in the Roman Empire as a given name. It derives from the ancient Greek leon, also meaning lion. The lion as a symbol of royalty, courage, and strength made Leo a natural name for leaders throughout history — 13 popes bore this name, as did several Byzantine emperors. Leo is also a major constellation and the fifth sign of the zodiac.
What is the origin of the name Leo?
Leo has Latin, English, Italian, German, French, American, and Spanish origins. In Latin, it means "lion-hearted, brave".
Is Leo a boy or girl name?
Leo is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #24. As a girl name, it is ranked #6600. Leo is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Leo?
Leo is pronounced l-EE-oh.
How popular is the name Leo?
Leo is currently ranked #24 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Leo?
Popular middle name pairings include Leo James, Leo Thomas, Leo Alexander, Leo Cole, Leo Grey, Leo Xavier, and Leo Finn.
What are good sibling names for Leo?
Names that pair well with Leo as siblings include Luna, Isla, Mia, Oscar, Violet, Arthur, and Stella.
How many syllables does Leo have?
Leo has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Leo a common or rare name?
Leo is a very popular name, ranked #24 among boy names in the United States.
What boy names are similar to Leo?
About the Name Leo
Leo is a boy name with English, Italian, German, French, American, and Spanish origins . The name means "lion-hearted, brave" in Latin .
Is Leo a boy or girl name? Leo is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #24 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #6,600. Leo is more commonly used as a boy name.
Leo is currently ranked #24 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Leo has 2 syllables and is pronounced l-EE-oh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Alternative spellings of Leo include Leonardo, Leon, Leonel, Leonidas, Leonard . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Latin Names
Browse all names with this origin
L
Names Starting with L
More boy names like Leo
Classic Names
Well-known names that stand the test of time
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis