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    The first name Leonidas

    A boy’s name from Greek meaning “son of leon / lion”.

    4 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    Leonidas means “son of leon / lion” in Greek.

    From Ancient Greek Λεωνίδᾱς (Leōnídās, “son of Leon / lion”).

    More names that mean lion.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 85 boys were named Leonidas, making it the 452nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 97 births (#431).

    050100 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,256
    babies named Leonidas, 1996–2025
    #452
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Leonidas at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 591 boys born in the United States were named Leonidas, the 510th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2022, when 760 were.

    0400800 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    10,281
    babies named Leonidas since 1880
    #510
    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.

    Leonidas in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Леонид
    Leonid
    Bulgarian

    Famous people named Leonidas

    8 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Leônidas
      Brazilian footballer and commentator, 1913–2004
    • Leonidas Polk
      Confederate General (1806-1864)
    • Leonidas Alaoglu
      Canadian mathematician (1914–1981)
    • Leonidas Iza
      Ecuadorian activist and indigenous leader, born 1982
    • Rafael Leonidas Felipe Núñez
      Dominican Roman-Catholic bishop, 1938–2025
    • César Mendoza Durán
      Chilean Military (1918-1996)
    • Waldo L. Parra
      Chilean lawyer and novelist, born 1965
    • Lucas Chávez
      Bolivian footballer (born 2003)

    More Greek boys’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What does the name Leonidas mean?
    Leonidas means “son of leon / lion” in Greek.
    What is the origin of the name Leonidas?
    From Ancient Greek Λεωνίδᾱς (Leōnídās, “son of Leon / lion”).
    How popular is the name Leonidas?
    In 2025, 85 boys born in England and Wales were named Leonidas, ranking 452nd. Its peak was 2021, with 97 births.
    Is Leonidas a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 10,281 US babies named Leonidas since 1880 were boys.
    When was Leonidas most popular?
    2022 in the United States, when 760 babies were named Leonidas, its highest rank at 421st.