Leo

Meaning: Lion
Origin: Latin (from Greek via Latin)

Boy's name · #19 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Leo was #38 in 1903, slipped to #486 by 1995, climbed back to #18 by 2023, and currently stands at #19. About 260,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Leo is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 51 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

Leo is especially popular in Finland (Finnish-sp.), France, and England & Wales.

#2 in Finland (Finnish-sp.) (2025) · #3 in France (2025) · #3 in England & Wales (2025) · #4 in Germany (2025) · #4 in Australia (VIC) (2025) · #5 in Spain (2024) · #5 in Australia (NSW) (2025) · #5 in N. Ireland (2025) · #6 in Switzerland (2025) · #6 in New Zealand (2025) · #7 in Austria (2025) · #7 in Scotland (2025) and 17 more.

Famous Leos

Leo Tolstoy — Russian author (1828–1910)
Leo XIV — 267th Pope of the Catholic Church (born 2025)
Leo XIII — Pope of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903 (1810–1903)
Leo I — Pope from 440 to 461 (390–461)
Leo X — Pope from 1513 to 1521 (1475–1521)

In stories & tradition

Leo the Lion — Mascot of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Leo Fitz — Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV series)
Leo Wyatt — Charmed (TV series)

What Leos become

Among 4,319 notable people named Leo:

Artists & writers appear 1.25× more often than among typical names — e.g. Leo Tolstoy, Russian author (1828–1910).

Similar names: Theodore · Levi · Mateo · Sebastian · Luca · Leon

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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