Fun Facts About the Name Leonard
- Decades of popularity: Leonard stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 78 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1957.
- More than 295 thousand babies named Leonard: U.S. records list 295,734 babies given the name Leonard from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,412 girls received the name Leonard - about 1 girl for every 208 boys.
What Does the Name Leonard Mean?
Leonard is the English form of a Germanic personal name, from Old High German Lewenhart and related Frankish forms. It is made of two elements: lewo, meaning 'lion,' and hart, meaning 'hardy, strong, brave.' The literal sense is 'lion-hardy' or 'strong as a lion,' usually given in English as 'brave lion' or 'lion-hearted.' The first element was likely influenced by Latin leo, 'lion,' which had entered Germanic speech; the second element is the same hard- found in names such as Bernard and Richard. The name reached English through Old French Leonard, but its components are Germanic rather than Romance.
Leonard Name History & Origins
The Germanic name behind Leonard spread across medieval Europe in several forms. Medieval Latin used Leonardus; Old French had Leonard; Italian and Spanish developed Leonardo; German has Leonhard. English adopted the Old French form after the Norman Conquest, and medieval English records show the name in both Latin and vernacular documents. Devotion to Saint Leonard, a sixth-century Frankish hermit and abbot associated with Limoges and Noblac, was widespread in medieval Europe. According to tradition, he was a Frankish noble who became a hermit; he was invoked as a patron of prisoners and captives, and churches and hospitals were dedicated to him. The name appears in England during the Middle Ages and continued in use in later centuries. It is distinct from the Italian Leonardo as an English given name, though both come from the same Germanic compound.
How Popular is the Name Leonard?
Leonard remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1957. Its highest annual birth count was in 1921, and people born that year turn 105 in 2026.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | #10,348 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #7,732 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #6,401 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #5,874 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #7,816 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #5,314 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #6,168 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #8,624 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #5,410 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #5,966 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #6,682 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #5,382 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #3,752 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #3,110 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1974 | #5,580 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1973 | #5,388 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1972 | #5,718 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #3,439 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #6,723 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #3,704 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1968 | #3,016 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1967 | #2,741 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1966 | #3,848 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #4,363 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,996 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,024 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1962 | #2,875 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1961 | #2,796 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #2,868 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1959 | #2,266 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1958 | #3,170 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #2,989 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #2,580 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #3,307 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1954 | #2,961 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #1,990 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1952 | #2,869 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1951 | #3,027 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #2,302 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #3,092 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #2,292 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1947 | #2,700 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #2,438 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1945 | #4,305 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #2,000 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1943 | #2,503 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #2,915 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #2,602 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1940 | #1,454 | 28 | 0.0024% |
| 1939 | #2,261 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1938 | #1,580 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1937 | #1,757 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1936 | #2,337 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #1,631 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1934 | #2,241 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1933 | #1,637 | 22 | 0.0022% |
| 1932 | #1,919 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1931 | #1,386 | 29 | 0.0027% |
| 1930 | #1,390 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1929 | #1,184 | 40 | 0.0036% |
| 1928 | #1,184 | 42 | 0.0036% |
| 1927 | #1,540 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1926 | #1,208 | 41 | 0.0035% |
| 1925 | #1,359 | 35 | 0.0029% |
| 1924 | #1,661 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1923 | #1,920 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1922 | #1,663 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1921 | #1,746 | 25 | 0.0020% |
| 1920 | #1,424 | 32 | 0.0027% |
| 1919 | #1,586 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1918 | #1,432 | 30 | 0.0026% |
| 1917 | #2,149 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1916 | #1,839 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1915 | #2,622 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1914 | #2,539 | 9 | 0.0012% |
| 1913 | #1,967 | 11 | 0.0018% |
| 1912 | #1,917 | 10 | 0.0018% |
| 1911 | #2,681 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1910 | #1,577 | 10 | 0.0025% |
| 1907 | #2,232 | 5 | 0.0016% |
| 1906 | #1,846 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1902 | #1,525 | 7 | 0.0027% |
| 1892 | #1,226 | 7 | 0.0033% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #637 | 438 | 0.0256% |
| 2024 | #673 | 404 | 0.0236% |
| 2023 | #692 | 384 | 0.0225% |
| 2022 | #711 | 371 | 0.0213% |
| 2021 | #650 | 421 | 0.0241% |
| 2020 | #637 | 420 | 0.0243% |
| 2019 | #615 | 443 | 0.0247% |
| 2018 | #636 | 417 | 0.0230% |
| 2017 | #605 | 437 | 0.0236% |
| 2016 | #599 | 450 | 0.0237% |
| 2015 | #651 | 400 | 0.0209% |
| 2014 | #666 | 385 | 0.0200% |
| 2013 | #686 | 349 | 0.0185% |
| 2012 | #703 | 338 | 0.0178% |
| 2011 | #704 | 326 | 0.0172% |
| 2010 | #626 | 388 | 0.0202% |
| 2009 | #727 | 323 | 0.0163% |
| 2008 | #620 | 400 | 0.0196% |
| 2007 | #672 | 356 | 0.0172% |
| 2006 | #619 | 384 | 0.0187% |
| 2005 | #588 | 385 | 0.0193% |
| 2004 | #579 | 385 | 0.0194% |
| 2003 | #559 | 402 | 0.0204% |
| 2002 | #563 | 396 | 0.0204% |
| 2001 | #517 | 436 | 0.0224% |
| 2000 | #508 | 451 | 0.0230% |
| 1999 | #474 | 479 | 0.0249% |
| 1998 | #471 | 471 | 0.0246% |
| 1997 | #474 | 455 | 0.0241% |
| 1996 | #415 | 547 | 0.0289% |
| 1995 | #433 | 528 | 0.0277% |
| 1994 | #369 | 645 | 0.0334% |
| 1993 | #350 | 672 | 0.0343% |
| 1992 | #327 | 775 | 0.0388% |
| 1991 | #311 | 833 | 0.0412% |
| 1990 | #292 | 863 | 0.0420% |
| 1989 | #270 | 914 | 0.0457% |
| 1988 | #258 | 908 | 0.0474% |
| 1987 | #242 | 968 | 0.0518% |
| 1986 | #249 | 901 | 0.0489% |
| 1985 | #243 | 955 | 0.0517% |
| 1984 | #217 | 1,054 | 0.0584% |
| 1983 | #211 | 1,100 | 0.0614% |
| 1982 | #205 | 1,199 | 0.0661% |
| 1981 | #208 | 1,191 | 0.0665% |
| 1980 | #193 | 1,277 | 0.0716% |
| 1979 | #190 | 1,264 | 0.0734% |
| 1978 | #178 | 1,313 | 0.0800% |
| 1977 | #178 | 1,301 | 0.0792% |
| 1976 | #177 | 1,311 | 0.0835% |
| 1975 | #166 | 1,431 | 0.0916% |
| 1974 | #164 | 1,468 | 0.0934% |
| 1973 | #150 | 1,665 | 0.1068% |
| 1972 | #151 | 1,717 | 0.1059% |
| 1971 | #146 | 2,036 | 0.1151% |
| 1970 | #144 | 2,297 | 0.1236% |
| 1969 | #133 | 2,263 | 0.1265% |
| 1968 | #128 | 2,257 | 0.1299% |
| 1967 | #125 | 2,415 | 0.1385% |
| 1966 | #125 | 2,456 | 0.1377% |
| 1965 | #121 | 2,712 | 0.1458% |
| 1964 | #115 | 3,070 | 0.1541% |
| 1963 | #118 | 3,045 | 0.1499% |
| 1962 | #117 | 3,155 | 0.1525% |
| 1961 | #114 | 3,429 | 0.1614% |
| 1960 | #113 | 3,637 | 0.1706% |
| 1959 | #109 | 3,728 | 0.1747% |
| 1958 | #102 | 4,021 | 0.1895% |
| 1957 | #94 | 4,341 | 0.2012% |
| 1956 | #89 | 4,371 | 0.2066% |
| 1955 | #88 | 4,260 | 0.2068% |
| 1954 | #85 | 4,482 | 0.2198% |
| 1953 | #85 | 4,412 | 0.2237% |
| 1952 | #83 | 4,619 | 0.2376% |
| 1951 | #80 | 4,738 | 0.2516% |
| 1950 | #77 | 4,581 | 0.2559% |
| 1949 | #74 | 4,551 | 0.2566% |
| 1948 | #71 | 4,780 | 0.2724% |
| 1947 | #71 | 5,157 | 0.2819% |
| 1946 | #67 | 4,702 | 0.2895% |
| 1945 | #57 | 4,125 | 0.3065% |
| 1944 | #56 | 4,183 | 0.3069% |
| 1943 | #55 | 4,617 | 0.3235% |
| 1942 | #57 | 4,369 | 0.3163% |
| 1941 | #54 | 3,985 | 0.3244% |
| 1940 | #54 | 3,817 | 0.3293% |
| 1939 | #54 | 3,711 | 0.3353% |
| 1938 | #57 | 3,670 | 0.3309% |
| 1937 | #58 | 3,480 | 0.3263% |
| 1936 | #54 | 3,716 | 0.3583% |
| 1935 | #54 | 3,804 | 0.3653% |
| 1934 | #53 | 3,836 | 0.3715% |
| 1933 | #47 | 3,955 | 0.3989% |
| 1932 | #48 | 4,101 | 0.3928% |
| 1931 | #48 | 4,279 | 0.4116% |
| 1930 | #45 | 4,662 | 0.4248% |
| 1929 | #42 | 4,829 | 0.4490% |
| 1928 | #42 | 5,130 | 0.4632% |
| 1927 | #40 | 5,312 | 0.4714% |
| 1926 | #38 | 5,402 | 0.4864% |
| 1925 | #38 | 5,465 | 0.4897% |
| 1924 | #38 | 5,601 | 0.4945% |
| 1923 | #37 | 5,486 | 0.5005% |
| 1922 | #38 | 5,407 | 0.4969% |
| 1921 | #39 | 5,650 | 0.5130% |
| 1920 | #38 | 5,511 | 0.5178% |
| 1919 | #39 | 5,010 | 0.5112% |
| 1918 | #41 | 4,980 | 0.4914% |
| 1917 | #41 | 4,694 | 0.5072% |
| 1916 | #42 | 4,328 | 0.4862% |
| 1915 | #44 | 3,993 | 0.4706% |
| 1914 | #45 | 2,923 | 0.4464% |
| 1913 | #46 | 2,276 | 0.4440% |
| 1912 | #45 | 1,928 | 0.4484% |
| 1911 | #46 | 953 | 0.4217% |
| 1910 | #46 | 793 | 0.4083% |
| 1909 | #46 | 665 | 0.4055% |
| 1908 | #48 | 614 | 0.3978% |
| 1907 | #51 | 547 | 0.3725% |
| 1906 | #50 | 492 | 0.3695% |
| 1905 | #47 | 495 | 0.3741% |
| 1904 | #46 | 508 | 0.3965% |
| 1903 | #49 | 448 | 0.3757% |
| 1902 | #52 | 426 | 0.3473% |
| 1901 | #54 | 362 | 0.3400% |
| 1900 | #54 | 465 | 0.3090% |
| 1899 | #60 | 321 | 0.3022% |
| 1898 | #53 | 421 | 0.3432% |
| 1897 | #61 | 310 | 0.2749% |
| 1896 | #60 | 350 | 0.2927% |
| 1895 | #61 | 342 | 0.2913% |
| 1894 | #60 | 343 | 0.2963% |
| 1893 | #69 | 275 | 0.2448% |
| 1892 | #71 | 294 | 0.2409% |
| 1891 | #72 | 235 | 0.2322% |
| 1890 | #67 | 275 | 0.2477% |
| 1889 | #77 | 229 | 0.2071% |
| 1888 | #83 | 225 | 0.1862% |
| 1887 | #79 | 207 | 0.2041% |
| 1886 | #74 | 236 | 0.2130% |
| 1885 | #80 | 204 | 0.1892% |
| 1884 | #83 | 206 | 0.1800% |
| 1883 | #79 | 200 | 0.1912% |
| 1882 | #77 | 231 | 0.2032% |
| 1881 | #72 | 206 | 0.2045% |
| 1880 | #78 | 200 | 0.1810% |
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.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Leonard
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Leonard Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Leonard's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Leonard's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.