Leo
LEE-oh /ˈliː.oʊ/
Meaning of Leo
Leo is the Latin word for 'lion' and was widely used in the Roman Empire as both a personal name and a title of strength. It was borne by thirteen popes (Leo I, 'the Great', being the most influential) and has been in continuous European use since Late Antiquity. Leo's modern popularity in the English-speaking world is partly driven by parents wanting a short, strong name and partly by the trend toward classical one-syllable boys' names.
Current popularity of Leo
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #26 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #1 |
| Germany (GfdS) | 2024 | #3 |
| France (INSEE) | 2024 | #2 |
Cultural notes
Leo has been the UK's #1 boys' name since 2022 — the fastest rise to the top spot in recent ONS history.
Notable bearers of Leo
Pope Leo I ('the Great', d. 461); Leonardo da Vinci; Leo Tolstoy; Leo DiCaprio.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Leo — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
- https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsgirls
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31