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 81 393 0.1116%
1911 77 503 0.1351%
1912 79 981 0.1945%
1913 81 1,138 0.2007%
1914 85 1,396 0.2003%
1915 82 1,965 0.2163%
1916 85 1,939 0.2007%
1917 82 2,094 0.2093%
1918 76 2,436 0.227%
1919 80 2,246 0.2145%
1920 75 2,543 0.2287%
1921 74 2,609 0.2278%
1922 77 2,513 0.2256%
1923 77 2,520 0.225%
1924 76 2,672 0.2301%
1925 76 2,628 0.2325%
1926 73 2,643 0.2403%
1927 78 2,593 0.2343%
1928 80 2,450 0.229%
1929 81 2,334 0.2253%
1930 81 2,388 0.2286%
1931 84 2,239 0.2269%
1932 83 2,290 0.2318%
1933 85 2,187 0.2347%
1934 87 2,283 0.2362%
1935 86 2,275 0.2341%
1936 82 2,270 0.2357%
1937 84 2,322 0.2356%
1938 85 2,344 0.229%
1939 85 2,316 0.2277%
1940 89 2,313 0.2176%
1941 94 2,360 0.2097%
1942 93 2,542 0.2013%
1943 103 2,446 0.1874%
1944 108 2,144 0.173%
1945 111 2,091 0.1715%
1946 113 2,334 0.1582%
1947 116 2,485 0.1489%
1948 119 2,371 0.1485%
1949 120 2,410 0.1498%
1950 119 2,422 0.1504%
1951 122 2,366 0.1395%
1952 124 2,373 0.1359%
1953 137 2,262 0.1278%
1954 140 2,127 0.1164%
1955 143 2,137 0.1162%
1956 153 2,033 0.1076%
1957 165 1,866 0.097%
1958 162 1,926 0.1019%
1959 175 1,739 0.0915%
1960 188 1,629 0.086%
1961 194 1,541 0.0816%
1962 194 1,533 0.0835%
1963 201 1,460 0.0813%
1964 190 1,462 0.0831%
1965 199 1,235 0.0755%
1966 187 1,290 0.0826%
1967 194 1,178 0.0776%
1968 196 1,169 0.0779%
1969 214 1,121 0.0728%
1970 208 1,191 0.0748%
1971 227 1,014 0.0675%
1972 218 1,003 0.0736%
1973 218 989 0.0763%
1974 218 946 0.0728%
1975 232 848 0.066%
1976 222 893 0.0693%
1977 229 910 0.0675%
1978 226 901 0.067%
1979 243 875 0.0621%
1980 253 852 0.0583%
1981 254 833 0.0567%
1982 255 834 0.0558%
1983 269 731 0.0495%
1984 263 766 0.0515%
1985 282 693 0.0457%
1986 300 647 0.0429%
1987 316 632 0.0414%
1988 321 637 0.0409%
1989 352 605 0.0375%
1990 380 577 0.0348%
1991 386 543 0.0333%
1992 400 538 0.0337%
1993 423 505 0.0324%
1994 416 509 0.0332%
1995 450 467 0.031%
1996 459 434 0.029%
1997 479 408 0.0276%
1998 472 423 0.0283%
1999 480 427 0.0285%
2000 501 416 0.0272%
2001 498 421 0.0279%
2002 496 424 0.0283%
2003 494 455 0.0299%
2004 517 428 0.0281%
2005 523 429 0.0281%
2006 513 466 0.0298%
2007 495 495 0.0314%
2008 507 497 0.0322%
2009 448 575 0.0385%
2010 416 635 0.0441%
2011 410 649 0.0456%
2012 355 825 0.0579%
2013 321 990 0.0695%
2014 318 1,044 0.0717%
2015 312 1,102 0.0757%
2016 274 1,284 0.0891%
2017 245 1,481 0.1061%
2018 235 1,581 0.1151%
2019 207 1,838 0.1358%
2020 199 1,841 0.1446%
2021 177 2,177 0.1781%
2022 157 2,350 0.1781%

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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

14 Comments

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. He is my little lion

    Reply

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

    Reply

  7. 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

  8. My husband like tht name

    Reply

  9. My husband like this name.

    Reply

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

    Reply

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

    Reply

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

    Reply

  13. 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

  14. 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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