Boy nameCurrently #24 in the USRising
Leo
LEE-oh//ˈliːoʊ//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20223 lettersStarts with L
Meaning & origin
Lion
Leo is drawn directly from the Latin word for lion, an ancient symbol of courage and strength, and was borne by thirteen popes. Short, bold, and internationally recognized, it has grown rapidly popular in recent years.
Leo's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Leo |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 153 |
| 1881 | 128 |
| 1882 | 146 |
| 1883 | 142 |
| 1884 | 198 |
| 1885 | 210 |
| 1886 | 248 |
| 1887 | 238 |
| 1888 | 363 |
| 1889 | 333 |
| 1890 | 405 |
| 1891 | 361 |
| 1892 | 458 |
| 1893 | 467 |
| 1894 | 525 |
| 1895 | 516 |
| 1896 | 519 |
| 1897 | 474 |
| 1898 | 608 |
| 1899 | 492 |
| 1900 | 587 |
| 1901 | 468 |
| 1902 | 565 |
| 1903 | 647 |
| 1904 | 571 |
| 1905 | 526 |
| 1906 | 519 |
| 1907 | 667 |
| 1908 | 606 |
| 1909 | 628 |
| 1910 | 732 |
| 1911 | 862 |
| 1912 | 1,671 |
| 1913 | 2,057 |
| 1914 | 2,690 |
| 1915 | 3,575 |
| 1916 | 3,680 |
| 1917 | 3,830 |
| 1918 | 4,098 |
| 1919 | 3,855 |
| 1920 | 4,116 |
| 1921 | 4,116 |
| 1922 | 3,951 |
| 1923 | 4,024 |
| 1924 | 4,038 |
| 1925 | 3,828 |
| 1926 | 3,604 |
| 1927 | 3,594 |
| 1928 | 3,139 |
| 1929 | 3,046 |
| 1930 | 3,081 |
| 1931 | 2,739 |
| 1932 | 2,522 |
| 1933 | 2,375 |
| 1934 | 2,328 |
| 1935 | 2,155 |
| 1936 | 2,033 |
| 1937 | 2,028 |
| 1938 | 1,966 |
| 1939 | 1,856 |
| 1940 | 1,768 |
| 1941 | 1,740 |
| 1942 | 1,815 |
| 1943 | 1,705 |
| 1944 | 1,602 |
| 1945 | 1,593 |
| 1946 | 1,660 |
| 1947 | 1,813 |
| 1948 | 1,723 |
| 1949 | 1,656 |
| 1950 | 1,560 |
| 1951 | 1,663 |
| 1952 | 1,564 |
| 1953 | 1,670 |
| 1954 | 1,619 |
| 1955 | 1,585 |
| 1956 | 1,558 |
| 1957 | 1,520 |
| 1958 | 1,437 |
| 1959 | 1,443 |
| 1960 | 1,212 |
| 1961 | 1,178 |
| 1962 | 1,110 |
| 1963 | 1,021 |
| 1964 | 1,036 |
| 1965 | 908 |
| 1966 | 856 |
| 1967 | 775 |
| 1968 | 700 |
| 1969 | 741 |
| 1970 | 708 |
| 1971 | 658 |
| 1972 | 557 |
| 1973 | 517 |
| 1974 | 511 |
| 1975 | 523 |
| 1976 | 488 |
| 1977 | 489 |
| 1978 | 485 |
| 1979 | 483 |
| 1980 | 473 |
| 1981 | 540 |
| 1982 | 489 |
| 1983 | 436 |
| 1984 | 430 |
| 1985 | 452 |
| 1986 | 415 |
| 1987 | 459 |
| 1988 | 457 |
| 1989 | 433 |
| 1990 | 431 |
| 1991 | 506 |
| 1992 | 469 |
| 1993 | 462 |
| 1994 | 474 |
| 1995 | 451 |
| 1996 | 447 |
| 1997 | 458 |
| 1998 | 527 |
| 1999 | 524 |
| 2000 | 658 |
| 2001 | 736 |
| 2002 | 815 |
| 2003 | 1,103 |
| 2004 | 1,244 |
| 2005 | 1,282 |
| 2006 | 1,501 |
| 2007 | 1,531 |
| 2008 | 1,634 |
| 2009 | 1,808 |
| 2010 | 1,946 |
| 2011 | 2,256 |
| 2012 | 2,887 |
| 2013 | 3,519 |
| 2014 | 3,992 |
| 2015 | 4,613 |
| 2016 | 5,312 |
| 2017 | 5,982 |
| 2018 | 6,791 |
| 2019 | 7,523 |
| 2020 | 7,253 |
| 2021 | 7,834 |
| 2022 | 8,322 |
| 2023 | 8,180 |
| 2024 | 7,811 |
Leo through the decades
- Leo peaked in 2022, when 8,322 babies were named Leo in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Leo has risen 211% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Leo currently ranks #24 in the US and is on the rise.
Nicknames
Leo
Variants & spellings
LeonLeonardo
Famous people named Leo
- Leonardo da Vinci — Renaissance artist (related form Leonardo)