Fun Facts About the Name Leo
- Back among the favorites: Leo returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 12 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 262 thousand babies named Leo: U.S. records list 262,069 babies given the name Leo from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,136 girls received the name Leo - about 1 girl for every 122 boys.
What Does the Name Leo Mean?
Leo is a masculine given name derived directly from the Latin word leo, meaning 'lion.' The Latin word is closely related to the Greek λέων (leon), and both are generally thought to come from an ancient, non-Indo-European Mediterranean language. The name is also used as a short form of longer names such as Leonard, Leopold, and Leonidas, but it stands independently as a name from the Latin noun. The literal meaning is 'lion'; any association with courage or royalty is a later symbolic interpretation, not part of the name's etymology.
Leo Name History & Origins
The name Leo was used in ancient Rome as a cognomen, a personal or family nickname. It was adopted by early Christians, and several saints and popes bore the name, beginning with Pope Leo I (the Great), who died in 461. The name was also used by Byzantine emperors, including Leo I (ruled 457 - 474) and Leo III (ruled 717 - 741). In the Middle Ages, Leo was common in Italy and other parts of Europe. In some Jewish communities, it was adopted as a vernacular name corresponding to the Hebrew name Judah (Yehuda), because the lion is the traditional symbol of the tribe of Judah. The name remains in use in many languages, including Italian, Spanish, German, and Dutch, often as a standalone given name or as a short form of longer names.
How Popular is the Name Leo?
Leo has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 69 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 2014 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,492 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2024 | #6,518 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2023 | #4,815 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #4,421 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 2021 | #4,372 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 2020 | #4,400 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #5,718 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #6,408 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2017 | #6,978 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #8,677 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #9,871 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #7,505 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2013 | #11,551 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #12,905 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #15,943 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #16,378 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #16,611 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #13,850 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #17,668 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #11,939 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #14,657 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #14,755 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #12,742 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #13,595 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #11,155 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #9,354 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #11,661 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #8,576 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #9,895 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #9,798 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #8,129 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #10,512 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #7,748 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #7,599 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #6,397 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #6,934 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #7,010 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #7,562 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #7,636 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #5,228 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #6,188 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #4,811 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #6,252 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #4,721 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #4,623 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #3,929 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #4,360 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #4,396 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #4,667 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #4,241 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #5,477 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #3,201 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #5,236 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #5,843 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #5,032 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #3,511 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #5,654 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #4,188 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #2,813 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1945 | #2,846 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #3,054 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #2,964 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #2,360 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1941 | #2,228 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1940 | #2,160 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1939 | #2,260 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1938 | #2,285 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1937 | #2,386 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1936 | #1,986 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1935 | #2,376 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1934 | #1,809 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1933 | #1,576 | 23 | 0.0023% |
| 1932 | #1,659 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1931 | #1,155 | 39 | 0.0037% |
| 1930 | #1,094 | 46 | 0.0041% |
| 1929 | #1,468 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1928 | #1,153 | 44 | 0.0038% |
| 1927 | #1,006 | 58 | 0.0049% |
| 1926 | #1,041 | 52 | 0.0044% |
| 1925 | #1,042 | 53 | 0.0044% |
| 1924 | #1,133 | 48 | 0.0038% |
| 1923 | #1,071 | 51 | 0.0042% |
| 1922 | #1,086 | 50 | 0.0042% |
| 1921 | #1,078 | 50 | 0.0041% |
| 1920 | #926 | 62 | 0.0052% |
| 1919 | #992 | 53 | 0.0047% |
| 1918 | #912 | 62 | 0.0054% |
| 1917 | #983 | 51 | 0.0047% |
| 1916 | #883 | 59 | 0.0056% |
| 1915 | #960 | 48 | 0.0049% |
| 1914 | #1,012 | 35 | 0.0046% |
| 1913 | #1,079 | 26 | 0.0042% |
| 1912 | #1,330 | 17 | 0.0030% |
| 1911 | #1,057 | 18 | 0.0043% |
| 1910 | #868 | 25 | 0.0063% |
| 1909 | #951 | 19 | 0.0055% |
| 1908 | #842 | 22 | 0.0066% |
| 1907 | #969 | 16 | 0.0050% |
| 1906 | #1,197 | 11 | 0.0037% |
| 1905 | #1,042 | 14 | 0.0048% |
| 1904 | #843 | 19 | 0.0069% |
| 1903 | #1,105 | 11 | 0.0042% |
| 1902 | #955 | 14 | 0.0053% |
| 1901 | #983 | 12 | 0.0050% |
| 1900 | #930 | 17 | 0.0057% |
| 1899 | #1,063 | 10 | 0.0043% |
| 1898 | #763 | 20 | 0.0077% |
| 1897 | #955 | 12 | 0.0051% |
| 1896 | #675 | 22 | 0.0092% |
| 1895 | #1,369 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1894 | #1,031 | 10 | 0.0045% |
| 1893 | #675 | 19 | 0.0089% |
| 1892 | #817 | 14 | 0.0066% |
| 1891 | #1,056 | 8 | 0.0043% |
| 1890 | #807 | 12 | 0.0063% |
| 1889 | #995 | 8 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #871 | 10 | 0.0056% |
| 1887 | #1,094 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1886 | #864 | 8 | 0.0055% |
| 1885 | #679 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1884 | #980 | 6 | 0.0047% |
| 1881 | #790 | 6 | 0.0065% |
| 1880 | #799 | 6 | 0.0066% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #19 | 8,173 | 0.4785% |
| 2024 | #24 | 7,793 | 0.4543% |
| 2023 | #18 | 8,152 | 0.4771% |
| 2022 | #22 | 8,290 | 0.4752% |
| 2021 | #31 | 7,802 | 0.4463% |
| 2020 | #36 | 7,222 | 0.4187% |
| 2019 | #40 | 7,501 | 0.4183% |
| 2018 | #50 | 6,772 | 0.3730% |
| 2017 | #62 | 5,965 | 0.3224% |
| 2016 | #74 | 5,299 | 0.2793% |
| 2015 | #91 | 4,602 | 0.2402% |
| 2014 | #97 | 3,976 | 0.2070% |
| 2013 | #112 | 3,510 | 0.1856% |
| 2012 | #134 | 2,879 | 0.1518% |
| 2011 | #167 | 2,250 | 0.1185% |
| 2010 | #191 | 1,946 | 0.1014% |
| 2009 | #210 | 1,802 | 0.0909% |
| 2008 | #228 | 1,628 | 0.0798% |
| 2007 | #238 | 1,531 | 0.0738% |
| 2006 | #235 | 1,501 | 0.0730% |
| 2005 | #259 | 1,275 | 0.0638% |
| 2004 | #265 | 1,239 | 0.0624% |
| 2003 | #285 | 1,095 | 0.0554% |
| 2002 | #339 | 809 | 0.0417% |
| 2001 | #360 | 736 | 0.0379% |
| 2000 | #388 | 658 | 0.0335% |
| 1999 | #441 | 524 | 0.0273% |
| 1998 | #434 | 527 | 0.0276% |
| 1997 | #471 | 458 | 0.0243% |
| 1996 | #482 | 447 | 0.0236% |
| 1995 | #486 | 446 | 0.0234% |
| 1994 | #462 | 474 | 0.0245% |
| 1993 | #465 | 456 | 0.0233% |
| 1992 | #463 | 469 | 0.0235% |
| 1991 | #441 | 506 | 0.0250% |
| 1990 | #477 | 431 | 0.0210% |
| 1989 | #454 | 428 | 0.0214% |
| 1988 | #426 | 451 | 0.0236% |
| 1987 | #410 | 452 | 0.0242% |
| 1986 | #422 | 415 | 0.0225% |
| 1985 | #405 | 447 | 0.0242% |
| 1984 | #396 | 430 | 0.0238% |
| 1983 | #388 | 429 | 0.0239% |
| 1982 | #366 | 483 | 0.0266% |
| 1981 | #341 | 534 | 0.0298% |
| 1980 | #367 | 473 | 0.0265% |
| 1979 | #362 | 483 | 0.0281% |
| 1978 | #353 | 478 | 0.0291% |
| 1977 | #359 | 484 | 0.0295% |
| 1976 | #348 | 481 | 0.0307% |
| 1975 | #336 | 516 | 0.0330% |
| 1974 | #340 | 511 | 0.0325% |
| 1973 | #335 | 509 | 0.0327% |
| 1972 | #327 | 550 | 0.0339% |
| 1971 | #302 | 651 | 0.0368% |
| 1970 | #294 | 702 | 0.0378% |
| 1969 | #273 | 741 | 0.0414% |
| 1968 | #279 | 695 | 0.0400% |
| 1967 | #262 | 767 | 0.0440% |
| 1966 | #244 | 856 | 0.0480% |
| 1965 | #247 | 902 | 0.0485% |
| 1964 | #233 | 1,027 | 0.0515% |
| 1963 | #237 | 1,015 | 0.0500% |
| 1962 | #232 | 1,101 | 0.0532% |
| 1961 | #230 | 1,178 | 0.0555% |
| 1960 | #230 | 1,203 | 0.0564% |
| 1959 | #202 | 1,432 | 0.0671% |
| 1958 | #195 | 1,428 | 0.0673% |
| 1957 | #190 | 1,511 | 0.0700% |
| 1956 | #184 | 1,550 | 0.0733% |
| 1955 | #175 | 1,576 | 0.0765% |
| 1954 | #172 | 1,613 | 0.0791% |
| 1953 | #162 | 1,657 | 0.0840% |
| 1952 | #171 | 1,558 | 0.0802% |
| 1951 | #156 | 1,658 | 0.0881% |
| 1950 | #160 | 1,554 | 0.0868% |
| 1949 | #153 | 1,646 | 0.0928% |
| 1948 | #151 | 1,718 | 0.0979% |
| 1947 | #147 | 1,805 | 0.0987% |
| 1946 | #147 | 1,647 | 0.1014% |
| 1945 | #139 | 1,582 | 0.1175% |
| 1944 | #132 | 1,592 | 0.1168% |
| 1943 | #133 | 1,694 | 0.1187% |
| 1942 | #120 | 1,800 | 0.1303% |
| 1941 | #116 | 1,725 | 0.1404% |
| 1940 | #112 | 1,753 | 0.1512% |
| 1939 | #108 | 1,842 | 0.1664% |
| 1938 | #104 | 1,952 | 0.1760% |
| 1937 | #97 | 2,015 | 0.1889% |
| 1936 | #94 | 2,017 | 0.1945% |
| 1935 | #92 | 2,142 | 0.2057% |
| 1934 | #86 | 2,309 | 0.2236% |
| 1933 | #75 | 2,352 | 0.2372% |
| 1932 | #74 | 2,500 | 0.2394% |
| 1931 | #69 | 2,700 | 0.2597% |
| 1930 | #63 | 3,035 | 0.2766% |
| 1929 | #60 | 3,018 | 0.2806% |
| 1928 | #61 | 3,095 | 0.2794% |
| 1927 | #55 | 3,536 | 0.3138% |
| 1926 | #54 | 3,552 | 0.3199% |
| 1925 | #54 | 3,775 | 0.3383% |
| 1924 | #51 | 3,990 | 0.3522% |
| 1923 | #49 | 3,973 | 0.3625% |
| 1922 | #51 | 3,901 | 0.3585% |
| 1921 | #50 | 4,066 | 0.3692% |
| 1920 | #48 | 4,054 | 0.3809% |
| 1919 | #49 | 3,802 | 0.3879% |
| 1918 | #48 | 4,036 | 0.3982% |
| 1917 | #47 | 3,779 | 0.4083% |
| 1916 | #47 | 3,621 | 0.4068% |
| 1915 | #47 | 3,527 | 0.4156% |
| 1914 | #47 | 2,655 | 0.4055% |
| 1913 | #48 | 2,031 | 0.3962% |
| 1912 | #49 | 1,654 | 0.3847% |
| 1911 | #51 | 844 | 0.3735% |
| 1910 | #51 | 707 | 0.3640% |
| 1909 | #49 | 609 | 0.3714% |
| 1908 | #49 | 584 | 0.3784% |
| 1907 | #42 | 651 | 0.4434% |
| 1906 | #47 | 508 | 0.3815% |
| 1905 | #46 | 512 | 0.3870% |
| 1904 | #42 | 552 | 0.4308% |
| 1903 | #38 | 636 | 0.5334% |
| 1902 | #43 | 551 | 0.4492% |
| 1901 | #42 | 456 | 0.4283% |
| 1900 | #46 | 570 | 0.3788% |
| 1899 | #43 | 482 | 0.4538% |
| 1898 | #39 | 588 | 0.4793% |
| 1897 | #46 | 462 | 0.4097% |
| 1896 | #47 | 497 | 0.4157% |
| 1895 | #42 | 509 | 0.4336% |
| 1894 | #42 | 515 | 0.4449% |
| 1893 | #45 | 448 | 0.3989% |
| 1892 | #49 | 444 | 0.3638% |
| 1891 | #51 | 353 | 0.3488% |
| 1890 | #49 | 393 | 0.3540% |
| 1889 | #59 | 325 | 0.2939% |
| 1888 | #59 | 353 | 0.2921% |
| 1887 | #74 | 232 | 0.2288% |
| 1886 | #73 | 240 | 0.2166% |
| 1885 | #83 | 199 | 0.1846% |
| 1884 | #84 | 192 | 0.1678% |
| 1883 | #95 | 142 | 0.1357% |
| 1882 | #99 | 146 | 0.1284% |
| 1881 | #103 | 122 | 0.1211% |
| 1880 | #93 | 147 | 0.1330% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
