boy's name
Leo
LEE-oh
- Origin Latin
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 3
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 494,668
the United States
#19
2025 births
Leo is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "lion." It has been carried by thirteen popes and by Byzantine emperors, and shares its root with the zodiac sign Leo and the constellation of the same name.
- Leo is a name of Latin origin.
- Peaked in US records in 2022, when 8,325 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade in US records.
- Today about 1 in 161 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Leo over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. Leo is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,159 |
| 1890s | 4,825 |
| 1900s | 5,784 |
| 1910s | 27,050 |
| 1920s | 37,456 |
| 1930s | 23,083 |
| 1940s | 17,075 |
| 1950s | 15,618 |
| 1960s | 9,539 |
| 1970s | 5,419 |
| 1980s | 4,583 |
| 1990s | 4,749 |
| 2000s | 12,312 |
| 2010s | 44,827 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 47,645 |
What Leo means
Leo means lion, directly from the Latin word. Unlike names where the animal is symbolic at a distance, Leo is the plain noun, carrying the associations of courage and strength that the lion held in Roman and later European culture.
Where Leo comes from
Leo comes from the Latin leo, meaning lion, itself borrowed from the Greek leon. It was in use in the late Roman period and became firmly established through the church: thirteen popes have taken the name, beginning with Leo I in the fifth century, who is remembered for meeting Attila the Hun. It was also common among Byzantine emperors. The same Latin word names the zodiac sign and constellation Leo, and gives English the words leonine and, through French, the surname Lyon. Leo functions both as an independent name and as a short form of Leonard, Leopold, and Leonardo.
How popular is Leo?
In 2025, Leo was given to 3,282 babies in England and Wales, ranking #3 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Leo is used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
How Leo is spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Léo | Léo is Leo written with an acute accent in France, and the spelling parents there overwhelmingly choose: it ranks #3 in France, against #309 for Leo. | 126,119 |
| Lëo | Lëo is a rare spelling of Leo, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 30 times, mostly in France. | 30 |
| Lèo | Lèo is a rare spelling of Leo, written with a grave accent and recorded about 5 times, mostly in France. | 5 |
Names that peaked alongside Leo
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Leo also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Leo over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Leo in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Leo
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Leo — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Leo
What does the name Leo mean?
Leo means "lion," directly from the Latin word.
Is Leo short for another name?
Leo stands on its own but is also used as a short form of Leonard, Leopold, and Leonardo.
Is Leo connected to the zodiac sign?
Yes — both come from the Latin leo, meaning lion.
How popular is the name Leo?
In 2025, Leo was given to 3,282 babies in England and Wales, ranking #3 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Is Leo a girl's or a boy's name?
Leo is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Leo?
Leo has 2 syllables.
When was Leo most popular?
Leo peaked in 2022, when 8,325 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Leo a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Leo currently ranks #3 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.