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    The first nameLeo

    A boy’s name from Latin meaning “lion”, “name of constellation”.

    Pronounced /ˈliːoʊ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Latin origin

    Leo means “lion”, “name of constellation” in Latin.

    From Latin leō (“lion”), calque of Ancient Greek λέων (léōn), calque of Akkadian 𒉈𒍑 (nēšu)/Akkadian 𒌨𒄞𒆷 (urgulû), from Sumerian 𒌨𒄞𒆷 (UR.GU.LA, “lion; name of constellation”). Doublet of Leon, leu, lev, lion, and Lyon.

    More names that mean lion.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 3,278 boys were named Leo, making it the 3rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 3,781 births (#7).

    02,0004,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    66,534
    babies named Leo, 1996–2025
    #3
    rank in 2025
    2017
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Leo with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Leo at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 8,173 boys born in the United States were named Leo, the 19th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2022, when 8,293 were.

    04,5009,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    262,124
    babies named Leo since 1880
    #19
    rank in 2025
    2022
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Leo in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Լևոն
    Lewon
    Armenian, also Լեո
    Лъв
    Lăv
    Bulgarian
    Lleó
    Catalan
    里奥
    lǐào
    Chinese
    Lev
    Czech
    Léon
    French, also Léo
    ლევანი
    levani
    Georgian, also ლეო
    Λέων
    Léon
    Greek, also Λίο
    אַרְיֵה
    aryé
    Hebrew, also לָבִיא, לֵאוֹן
    लिओ
    lio
    Hindi
    Leó
    Hungarian
    Leó
    Icelandic
    León
    Irish
    Leone
    Italian, also Leo
    レオ
    Reo
    Japanese
    레오
    Re'o
    Korean
    Leons
    Latvian
    Leonas
    Lithuanian
    Leon
    Polish, also Lew
    Leão
    Portuguese
    Leon
    Romanian
    Лев
    Russian, also Лео́н, Ле́о
    Lev
    Slovak
    Lèv
    Slovene, also Léon

    Spelled Leo in Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, German, Latin, Norwegian, Swedish and Welsh too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Leo

    248 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Leo III the Syrian
      Emperor of Byzantine Empire, 675–741
    • Leo Baekeland
      Belgium American inventor (1863-1944)
    • Léo Delibes
      French composer (1836–1891)
    • Leo IV the Khazar
      Byzantine emperor, 750–780
    • Leo von Caprivi
      German Chancellor and Prussian General of the Infantry and Prime Minister (1831–1899)
    • Leo Africanus
      An Andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his 1526 book Cosmographia et geogra
    • Leo McCarey
      American film director, screenwriter and producer (1898-1969)
    • Leo Beenhakker
      Dutch association football trainer (1942–2025)
    • Leo Fender
      American inventor and founder of the Fender company (1909–1991)
    • Raymond Leo Burke
      American Catholic cardinal, born 1948
    • Léo Ferré
      French-born Monégasque poet and singer, 1916–1993
    • Leo Tindemans
      Belgian politician (1922–2014)

    More Latin boys’ names

    All 381 names of Latin origin

    Questions

    What does the name Leo mean?
    Leo means “lion”, “name of constellation” in Latin.
    What is the origin of the name Leo?
    From Latin leō (“lion”), calque of Ancient Greek λέων (léōn), calque of Akkadian 𒉈𒍑 (nēšu)/Akkadian 𒌨𒄞𒆷 (urgulû), from Sumerian 𒌨𒄞𒆷 (UR.GU.LA, “lion; name of constellation”). Doublet of Leon, leu, lev, lion, and Lyon.
    How popular is the name Leo?
    In 2025, 3,278 boys born in England and Wales were named Leo, ranking 3rd. Its peak was 2017, with 3,781 births.