Leonardo
lee-oh-NAR-do /ˌliː.oʊˈnɑːr.doʊ/
Meaning of Leonardo
Leonardo is the Italian and Spanish form of Leonard, from the Old German Leonhard: leo ('lion') + hard ('strong, bold'). The combined meaning is 'bold as a lion' or 'lion-strong.' Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) is by far the name's most celebrated bearer — polymath, artist, scientist and engineer — and gives the name an enduring association with genius and creativity.
How to pronounce Leonardo
In Italian: le-o-NAR-do (four syllables, stress on third).
Current popularity of Leonardo
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (ISTAT) | 2024 | #9 |
| Spain (INE) | 2024 | #16 |
| Brazil (IBGE) | 2024 | #2 |
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #150 |
Notable bearers of Leonardo
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519); Leonardo DiCaprio (actor); Leonardo Fibonacci (mathematician).
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 Leonardo — 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
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31