Leon
Leon was the 138th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,583 babies. Its best year was 1926, when it ranked 73rd; the most babies were born in 1924 (2,677). Over the last ten years it has moved up 176 places. More babies were named Leon in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning lion · Greek, Latin
Say it LEE-ahn /ˈliɑn/
- Rank in 2025
- #138 boys, up 58 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,583boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19242,677 babies
- Total since 1880
- 184,074babies recorded
What does the name Leon mean?
Leon comes from the Greek Leon and Latin Leo, both meaning 'lion'. Wikipedia notes it is one of the oldest Greek personal names and gave rise to Leo, French Léon, Spanish León and Armenian Levon. DMNES (under Leo) lists many popes and Byzantine emperors named Leo and notes that Jewish families used it to translate a Hebrew name. Wiktionary adds that Leon is sometimes a short form of Leonard. The Spanish place name León is unrelated, from Latin legio, 'legion'.
λέων (Ancient Greek, “lion”)leo (Latin, “lion”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Leo, León, Léon, Levon, Leonard, Lionel.
See also: Greek names, names that mean an animal.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Leon', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Leo', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wikipedia, 'Leon (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Leon popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,436 since 1891.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #138 | 2,583 |
| 2020 | #196 | 1,924 |
| 2010 | #418 | 669 |
| 2000 | #500 | 457 |
| 1990 | #390 | 594 |
| 1980 | #248 | 904 |
| 1970 | #207 | 1,222 |
| 1960 | #189 | 1,647 |
| 1950 | #119 | 2,427 |
| 1940 | #89 | 2,318 |
| 1930 | #81 | 2,401 |
| 1920 | #75 | 2,554 |
| 1910 | #81 | 435 |
| 1900 | #85 | 310 |
| 1890 | #87 | 197 |
| 1880 | #114 | 118 |
How popular is Leon, counting every spelling?
Leon is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #147 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #138 for Leon on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,597 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon | 2,583 | #138 | 12,186 |
| Leeon | 9 | #8,645 | 34 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Leon?
2,583 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Leon (0.72 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Leon born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Leon.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Leon?
About 89,700 people born in the US named Leon are alive today, with a median age of 49; half are between 12 and 70. That makes Leon mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Leon by state
How common Leon was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Alaska (2.4×), Hawaii (2.4×), Oregon (1.9×), Washington (1.8×), Minnesota (1.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Mississippi, Alabama, Wyoming.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Leon: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Leon, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Leon · Sibling names for Leon
Questions about the name Leon
What does Leon mean?
Leon means “lion” (Greek, Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Leon?
Leon was the 138th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,583 babies. Its best year was 1926, when it ranked 73rd; the most babies were born in 1924 (2,677). Over the last ten years it has moved up 176 places. More babies were named Leon in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Leon a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Leon in the US.
Where is Leon most popular?
In 2021–2025, Leon was most common in Alaska (3.44 per 1,000 boys), followed by Hawaii and Oregon.