Leo

“Lion” — Greek via Latin origin

Boy's name · #19 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Leo has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #18 (2023) · 259,988 babies named Leo all-time · 1 in 210 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: #2 in Finland (Finnish-sp.) (2025) · #3 in France (2025) · #3 in England & Wales (2025) · #4 in Australia (VIC) (2025) · #4 in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 51 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Leos

Leo Tolstoy — Russian author (1828–1910)
Leo XIV — 267th Pope of the Catholic Church (2025–)
Leo XIII — Pope of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903 (1810–1903)
Leo I — Pope from 440 to 461 (390–461)
Leo X — pope from 1513 to 1521 (1475-1521)

In stories & tradition

Leo Belgicus — animalisation
Leo the Lion — fictional lion
Leo Fitz — Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

What Leos become

Among 3,874 notable people named Leo:

Artists & writers appear 1.26× more often than among typical names — e.g. Leo Tolstoy, Russian author (1828–1910).

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.