Leo
Leo is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Lion.
Origin and history
Leo is a classic name of Latin origin meaning 'lion'. It was historically borne by numerous saints and early Roman Catholic popes. In the contemporary United States, it has experienced a major resurgence, climbing into the top 25 most popular boys' names.
Popularity in the United States
259,988 babies in the United States have been named Leo since 1880. It ranks #146 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #24.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.4 %)
- NY (8.6 %)
- PA (6 %)
- TX (5.6 %)
- IL (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 2,098 |
| 1890-1900 | 4,691 |
| 1900-1910 | 5,629 |
| 1910-1920 | 26,656 |
| 1920-1930 | 36,960 |
| 1930-1940 | 22,864 |
| 1940-1950 | 16,962 |
| 1950-1960 | 15,536 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,487 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,365 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,541 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,738 |
| 2000-2010 | 12,274 |
| 2010-2019 | 44,706 |
| 2020-2029 | 47,481 |
Famous people named Leo
- Leo Tolstoy: Author, Novelist
- Leo Messi: Athlete, Soccer Player
Fun facts
- Leo has been chosen as a regnal name by 13 Popes of the Catholic Church, starting with Pope Leo I in the fifth century.
- Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, represented by a lion and associated with the summer constellation of the same name.
- After dropping in usage during the mid-20th century, Leo has surged back into the top 25 U.S. male names in the 2020s.