Leon Name Meaning

The meaning of Leon is most commonly associated with strength and power. It is derived from the Greek word “leon” which means “lion”. The name is also associated with leadership, courage, and bravery, due to the heroic story of Leonidas.

Origins of the Name Leon

The origin of Leon is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have derived from the Greek name Leonidas. This name was likely chosen to honor the Spartan king Leonidas who bravely defended the city of Sparta against the Persian army in the Battle of Thermopylae.

The name Leon has also been used in many cultures over the centuries. In some parts of Europe, it is a diminutive of the name Leonora, which comes from the Germanic words for “lion” and “strong”. In Latin cultures, it is often seen as a form of the name Leander, which is derived from the Greek words for “lion” and “man”.

Popularity of the Name Leon

Leon has been a popular name for boys for centuries. It first gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century, and it has remained a top-200 name for boys for over a century. In recent years, Leon has seen a surge in popularity, reaching its highest ranking ever in 2020.

In the United States, Leon is currently the 109th most popular name for boys. It is particularly popular in the Western states, with the highest ranking of 25th in Nevada.

Final Thoughts on the Name Leon

Leon is a strong, powerful name that has been around for centuries. Its meaning is steeped in heroism and bravery, and it has become a popular choice for boys in recent years. So, if you’re looking for a boy’s name with a strong, masculine sound and a rich history.

Infographic of Leon name meaning, which is Meaning lion, Leon is from Greek origins.
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Leon Name Popularity

How popular is the name Leon? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 393 0.1116%
1911 — 503 0.1351%
1912 — 981 0.1945%
1913 — 1,138 0.2007%
1914 — 1,396 0.2003%
1915 — 1,965 0.2163%
1916 — 1,939 0.2007%
1917 — 2,094 0.2093%
1918 — 2,436 0.227%
1919 — 2,246 0.2145%
1920 — 2,543 0.2287%
1921 — 2,609 0.2278%
1922 — 2,513 0.2256%
1923 — 2,520 0.225%
1924 — 2,672 0.2301%
1925 — 2,628 0.2325%
1926 — 2,643 0.2403%
1927 — 2,593 0.2343%
1928 — 2,450 0.229%
1929 — 2,334 0.2253%
1930 — 2,388 0.2286%
1931 — 2,239 0.2269%
1932 — 2,290 0.2318%
1933 — 2,187 0.2347%
1934 — 2,283 0.2362%
1935 — 2,275 0.2341%
1936 — 2,270 0.2357%
1937 — 2,322 0.2356%
1938 — 2,344 0.229%
1939 — 2,316 0.2277%
1940 — 2,313 0.2176%
1941 — 2,360 0.2097%
1942 — 2,542 0.2013%
1943 — 2,446 0.1874%
1944 — 2,144 0.173%
1945 — 2,091 0.1715%
1946 — 2,334 0.1582%
1947 — 2,485 0.1489%
1948 — 2,371 0.1485%
1949 — 2,410 0.1498%
1950 — 2,422 0.1504%
1951 — 2,366 0.1395%
1952 — 2,373 0.1359%
1953 — 2,262 0.1278%
1954 — 2,127 0.1164%
1955 — 2,137 0.1162%
1956 — 2,033 0.1076%
1957 — 1,866 0.097%
1958 — 1,926 0.1019%
1959 — 1,739 0.0915%
1960 — 1,629 0.086%
1961 — 1,541 0.0816%
1962 — 1,533 0.0835%
1963 — 1,460 0.0813%
1964 — 1,462 0.0831%
1965 — 1,235 0.0755%
1966 — 1,290 0.0826%
1967 — 1,178 0.0776%
1968 — 1,169 0.0779%
1969 — 1,121 0.0728%
1970 — 1,191 0.0748%
1971 — 1,014 0.0675%
1972 — 1,003 0.0736%
1973 — 989 0.0763%
1974 — 946 0.0728%
1975 — 848 0.066%
1976 — 893 0.0693%
1977 — 910 0.0675%
1978 — 901 0.067%
1979 — 875 0.0621%
1980 — 852 0.0583%
1981 — 833 0.0567%
1982 — 834 0.0558%
1983 — 731 0.0495%
1984 — 766 0.0515%
1985 — 693 0.0457%
1986 — 647 0.0429%
1987 — 632 0.0414%
1988 — 637 0.0409%
1989 — 605 0.0375%
1990 — 577 0.0348%
1991 — 543 0.0333%
1992 — 538 0.0337%
1993 — 505 0.0324%
1994 — 509 0.0332%
1995 — 467 0.031%
1996 — 434 0.029%
1997 — 408 0.0276%
1998 — 423 0.0283%
1999 — 427 0.0285%
2000 — 416 0.0272%
2001 — 421 0.0279%
2002 — 424 0.0283%
2003 — 455 0.0299%
2004 — 428 0.0281%
2005 — 429 0.0281%
2006 — 466 0.0298%
2007 — 495 0.0314%
2008 — 497 0.0322%
2009 — 575 0.0385%
2010 — 635 0.0441%
2011 — 649 0.0456%
2012 — 825 0.0579%
2013 — 990 0.0695%
2014 — 1,044 0.0717%
2015 — 1,102 0.0757%
2016 — 1,284 0.0891%
2017 — 1,481 0.1061%
2018 — 1,581 0.1151%
2019 — 1,838 0.1358%
2020 — 1,841 0.1446%
2021 — 2,177 0.1781%
2022 — 2,350 0.1781%
2023 — 2,437 0.1883%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Leon

If you like Leon, you’ll love these other names like Leon.

What names are diminutives of Leon?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Leon sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Leon, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Li

A diminutive form of Leo, Leon, and Lionel.

Lin

Linden tree hill

English

What names are variants of Leon?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Leon.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Leoncio

Lion

Latin

Leone

Lion strength

Greek

Lioni

Greek

Lionisio

Greek

Lionni

Greek

What names sound like Leon?

If you like how Leon sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Leon.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Len

Lion strength

German

Lenn

Lion strength

German

Lion

Lion

Latin

Lon

From Laurentum; strong, warlike

Spanish

Lyon

Lion

French

What names are similar to Leon?

Find a name that’s like Leon, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Leonard

Lion strength

German

Napoleon

Lion of the new city

Italian

Lists With Leon

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Leon.

Siblings of Leon

Mamas with kids named Leon also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Nadia

Hope

Slavic

Alejandro

Defender of man

Spanish

18 Comments

  1. Lion in honor of my dad, lion of Judah, strength, courage, victory over sin and death

    Reply

  2. Honestly, I’m Persian/Iranian, and my husband is half American, half Greek. We’re both gamers and big fans of the Resident Evil games! Of course, Leon S. Kennedy is our favorite character.

    My husband suggested the name Leon. I wasn’t completely sure because of its Spartan connections, but I love my husband, so I respected his opinion. Plus, lions are my favorite animal. For his middle name, I chose Ario Barzan, after the greatest leader in ancient Persia. My son is really like Leon Kennedy, wants to be a cop

    Reply

  3. Dad chose this name and he’s always thought it was nice. It’s the name of the protagonist of a book he’s been working on. It was also the alter ego name of his closest cousin, who is the godfather of our son now. We also both like the artist Leon Bridges and went to go see his concert for our first wedding anniversary.

    Reply

  4. I’m Leon, and I love my name!!!

    Reply

  5. My husband and I love the name Leon for a long time. We decided on our wedding night what are children’s names would be.

    Reply

  6. Leon in Greek means lion. I want to raise my son to be a man of God, and I couldn’t of thought of a better, stronger name that is perfect for our sweet baby boy. Leon is such a content, loving, adorable little man. He loves his snuggles and kisses, and is dearly loved by his parents and 3 sisters!

    Reply

  7. I prayed for an answer and woke up in the morning and his name was the first thing to pop into my mind. I love the name. It reminds me of a lion strength and grace

    Reply

  8. My husband and I chose the name from the first thing we bonded over. Our sons name is now a reminder of all the time spent watching movies and playing games. I like that it’s short. (I’m also partial to L names.)

    Reply

  9. He is my little lion

    Reply

  10. because it means Lion!! and Leon Bridges duh.

    Reply

  11. Leon got his first name from his great grandfather and his 2 middle names from 2 of his grandfather’s its an honor to have his first name due to its a military family name and his grandmother paternal was ecstatic to have him have his name

    Reply

  12. My husband like tht name

    Reply

  13. My husband like this name.

    Reply

  14. His dad picked the first name i chose the middle names cause i picked the first name of our first born

    Reply

  15. I chose Leon because it’s one of my favorite characters in a game ?. Also it’s a name I rarely hear.

    Reply

  16. Leon was my grandfather’s name and I loved him a lot! It was only fitting that I give my son that name.

    Reply

  17. I chose the name Leon for my son because it was my grandfather’s name. I loved him very much and felt it was the perfect name for my son. The name itself means lion and it fits my son perfectly, my son was born @25 weeks and fought his way through and out of the NICU. He is a strong little boy.

    Reply

  18. My husband shared with me shortly after finding out about our pregnancy he secretly hoped we were having twins. Since he was a kid he thought it would be super cool to have b/g twins named Leon and Noel (Noelle). The first time he suggested it, I had my heart set on something very different, (Asher), but after hearing Leon for a second time I fell in love.
    When sharing our son’s name with friends and family we did receive some criticism. Some referred to it as “an old man’s name.”
    While it took some time for some people to come around, everyone now loves the name.

    Reply

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