What does the name Leo mean?

Leo means lion. Symbol of courage.

Where does the name Leo come from?

Leo is a boy name of Latin origin.

Is Leo a boy or a girl name?

Leo is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Leo are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Leo in 2023?

Leo ranks #4818 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2022 with 8,325 babies.

How do you pronounce Leo?

Leo is pronounced LEE-oh (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Leo?

Leo is also written as Leon, Leonardo, Leonel.

A name from Latin · Boy

Leo

Lion. Symbol of courage.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

243,992 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

8,188 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

LLion. Symbol of courage.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Leo".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Leon Most common Leonardo Leonel

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Leo.

L
Leo Tolstoy (author)

Quick answers

People often ask about Leo.

What does the name Leo mean?: Leo means lion. Symbol of courage.
Where does the name Leo come from?: Leo is a boy name of Latin origin.
Is Leo a boy or a girl name?: Leo is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Leo are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Leo in 2023?: Leo ranks #4818 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2022 with 8,325 babies.
How do you pronounce Leo?: Leo is pronounced LEE-oh (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Leo?: Leo is also written as Leon, Leonardo, Leonel.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.