Fun Facts About the Name Leon
- A favorite of earlier generations: Leon appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 4 separate runs, totaling 56 years. Its last run lasted 50 consecutive years, from 1893 through 1942.
- More than 184 thousand babies named Leon: U.S. records list 184,041 babies given the name Leon from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,436 girls received the name Leon - about 1 girl for every 127 boys.
What Does the Name Leon Mean?
Leon is a male given name meaning "lion." It comes from the Greek word λέων (leōn), the ordinary Greek noun for a lion. The Greek form passed into Latin as leo, with the stem leon- appearing in cases such as the genitive leonis and accusative leonem. Leon is closely related to Leo, the Latin nominative form, and it shares the same lion element found in Leonidas, but Leon itself is not a compound name; its meaning is the animal name. The literal sense is "lion." Later symbolic readings of the lion as a figure of courage or kingship are interpretations of the animal, not separate etymologies of the name.
Leon Name History & Origins
In ancient Greek, λέων was used as a personal name as well as a common noun, and a king of Sparta named Leon is one early historical bearer. Through Latin, the name entered western European naming traditions in several local forms: Léon in French, León in Spanish, Leone in Italian, and Leon in German, Polish, and English, among others. The specific form Leon often reflects the Greek nominative or the Latin stem leon- rather than the Latin nominative leo. In the Greek-speaking Byzantine world, the form Leōn was borne by several emperors and patriarchs; in English, those figures are usually called Leo. In English, Leon is a separate name from Leo, though both come from the same root. It is also sometimes used as a short form of Leonard, Leonardo, or Leonidas, but those are separate names; the name's own origin is the Greek word for lion.
How Popular is the Name Leon?
Leon has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 56 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1893 to 1942.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #13,007 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #14,393 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #14,539 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #14,414 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #9,355 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #7,457 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #8,850 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #8,688 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #6,478 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #9,896 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #5,442 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #5,117 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #4,754 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #5,390 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #5,381 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #4,069 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #5,777 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1974 | #7,316 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #9,143 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #3,809 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1971 | #4,705 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #5,256 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #5,738 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #5,413 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #4,814 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #3,665 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #4,677 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #3,315 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #3,407 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #3,362 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #3,131 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #2,867 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1959 | #4,171 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #4,076 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #2,880 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #3,428 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #2,789 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1954 | #3,412 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #3,375 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #4,316 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #2,877 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,842 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #3,292 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #2,895 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1947 | #2,404 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #4,231 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #2,847 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #3,906 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #2,965 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #2,914 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #2,322 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1940 | #2,368 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1939 | #2,363 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1938 | #2,286 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1937 | #1,663 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1936 | #2,990 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1935 | #2,377 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1934 | #1,810 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1933 | #2,008 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1932 | #1,438 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1931 | #1,441 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1930 | #1,684 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1929 | #1,793 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1928 | #1,618 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1927 | #1,317 | 37 | 0.0031% |
| 1926 | #1,524 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1925 | #1,630 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1924 | #1,342 | 37 | 0.0030% |
| 1923 | #1,293 | 37 | 0.0031% |
| 1922 | #1,487 | 31 | 0.0026% |
| 1921 | #1,647 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1920 | #1,181 | 42 | 0.0035% |
| 1919 | #1,339 | 34 | 0.0030% |
| 1918 | #1,431 | 30 | 0.0026% |
| 1917 | #1,392 | 29 | 0.0027% |
| 1916 | #1,425 | 27 | 0.0026% |
| 1915 | #1,273 | 31 | 0.0032% |
| 1914 | #1,634 | 17 | 0.0022% |
| 1913 | #1,498 | 16 | 0.0026% |
| 1912 | #1,916 | 10 | 0.0018% |
| 1911 | #1,209 | 15 | 0.0036% |
| 1910 | #1,094 | 17 | 0.0043% |
| 1909 | #1,422 | 10 | 0.0029% |
| 1908 | #1,066 | 15 | 0.0045% |
| 1907 | #1,459 | 9 | 0.0028% |
| 1906 | #1,131 | 12 | 0.0041% |
| 1905 | #1,366 | 9 | 0.0031% |
| 1904 | #1,573 | 7 | 0.0025% |
| 1902 | #1,102 | 11 | 0.0042% |
| 1900 | #1,275 | 10 | 0.0033% |
| 1898 | #1,220 | 9 | 0.0035% |
| 1897 | #1,216 | 8 | 0.0034% |
| 1896 | #1,498 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| 1894 | #1,601 | 5 | 0.0022% |
| 1893 | #1,545 | 5 | 0.0023% |
| 1892 | #1,225 | 7 | 0.0033% |
| 1891 | #1,278 | 6 | 0.0032% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #138 | 2,583 | 0.1512% |
| 2024 | #141 | 2,547 | 0.1485% |
| 2023 | #148 | 2,456 | 0.1437% |
| 2022 | #158 | 2,373 | 0.1360% |
| 2021 | #177 | 2,198 | 0.1257% |
| 2020 | #196 | 1,923 | 0.1115% |
| 2019 | #208 | 1,866 | 0.1041% |
| 2018 | #238 | 1,605 | 0.0884% |
| 2017 | #244 | 1,516 | 0.0819% |
| 2016 | #277 | 1,313 | 0.0692% |
| 2015 | #314 | 1,140 | 0.0595% |
| 2014 | #321 | 1,081 | 0.0563% |
| 2013 | #324 | 1,021 | 0.0540% |
| 2012 | #356 | 859 | 0.0453% |
| 2011 | #406 | 696 | 0.0367% |
| 2010 | #418 | 669 | 0.0349% |
| 2009 | #445 | 628 | 0.0317% |
| 2008 | #499 | 549 | 0.0269% |
| 2007 | #488 | 543 | 0.0262% |
| 2006 | #502 | 517 | 0.0252% |
| 2005 | #524 | 470 | 0.0235% |
| 2004 | #520 | 462 | 0.0233% |
| 2003 | #497 | 495 | 0.0251% |
| 2002 | #490 | 472 | 0.0243% |
| 2001 | #490 | 469 | 0.0241% |
| 2000 | #500 | 457 | 0.0233% |
| 1999 | #480 | 463 | 0.0241% |
| 1998 | #476 | 460 | 0.0241% |
| 1997 | #489 | 436 | 0.0231% |
| 1996 | #458 | 473 | 0.0250% |
| 1995 | #452 | 503 | 0.0264% |
| 1994 | #422 | 544 | 0.0282% |
| 1993 | #425 | 531 | 0.0271% |
| 1992 | #388 | 591 | 0.0296% |
| 1991 | #391 | 581 | 0.0288% |
| 1990 | #390 | 594 | 0.0289% |
| 1989 | #351 | 647 | 0.0323% |
| 1988 | #320 | 675 | 0.0353% |
| 1987 | #318 | 662 | 0.0355% |
| 1986 | #299 | 687 | 0.0373% |
| 1985 | #283 | 727 | 0.0393% |
| 1984 | #262 | 797 | 0.0442% |
| 1983 | #264 | 784 | 0.0437% |
| 1982 | #253 | 873 | 0.0481% |
| 1981 | #253 | 869 | 0.0485% |
| 1980 | #248 | 904 | 0.0507% |
| 1979 | #242 | 907 | 0.0527% |
| 1978 | #228 | 924 | 0.0563% |
| 1977 | #229 | 948 | 0.0577% |
| 1976 | #221 | 924 | 0.0589% |
| 1975 | #233 | 884 | 0.0566% |
| 1974 | #219 | 973 | 0.0619% |
| 1973 | #217 | 1,007 | 0.0646% |
| 1972 | #218 | 1,025 | 0.0632% |
| 1971 | #227 | 1,041 | 0.0589% |
| 1970 | #207 | 1,221 | 0.0657% |
| 1969 | #213 | 1,151 | 0.0644% |
| 1968 | #196 | 1,197 | 0.0689% |
| 1967 | #195 | 1,198 | 0.0687% |
| 1966 | #187 | 1,308 | 0.0733% |
| 1965 | #199 | 1,263 | 0.0679% |
| 1964 | #190 | 1,482 | 0.0744% |
| 1963 | #201 | 1,477 | 0.0727% |
| 1962 | #195 | 1,542 | 0.0745% |
| 1961 | #194 | 1,559 | 0.0734% |
| 1960 | #189 | 1,647 | 0.0773% |
| 1959 | #176 | 1,748 | 0.0819% |
| 1958 | #163 | 1,932 | 0.0910% |
| 1957 | #166 | 1,888 | 0.0875% |
| 1956 | #154 | 2,043 | 0.0966% |
| 1955 | #143 | 2,142 | 0.1040% |
| 1954 | #140 | 2,145 | 0.1052% |
| 1953 | #137 | 2,273 | 0.1152% |
| 1952 | #124 | 2,377 | 0.1223% |
| 1951 | #122 | 2,366 | 0.1257% |
| 1950 | #119 | 2,428 | 0.1356% |
| 1949 | #121 | 2,425 | 0.1367% |
| 1948 | #119 | 2,383 | 0.1358% |
| 1947 | #117 | 2,488 | 0.1360% |
| 1946 | #113 | 2,338 | 0.1440% |
| 1945 | #111 | 2,098 | 0.1559% |
| 1944 | #108 | 2,151 | 0.1578% |
| 1943 | #103 | 2,451 | 0.1717% |
| 1942 | #93 | 2,550 | 0.1846% |
| 1941 | #93 | 2,375 | 0.1934% |
| 1940 | #89 | 2,318 | 0.2000% |
| 1939 | #86 | 2,327 | 0.2102% |
| 1938 | #85 | 2,355 | 0.2123% |
| 1937 | #85 | 2,325 | 0.2180% |
| 1936 | #82 | 2,282 | 0.2200% |
| 1935 | #86 | 2,282 | 0.2191% |
| 1934 | #87 | 2,306 | 0.2233% |
| 1933 | #85 | 2,187 | 0.2206% |
| 1932 | #83 | 2,295 | 0.2198% |
| 1931 | #84 | 2,245 | 0.2159% |
| 1930 | #81 | 2,401 | 0.2188% |
| 1929 | #81 | 2,336 | 0.2172% |
| 1928 | #81 | 2,460 | 0.2221% |
| 1927 | #78 | 2,602 | 0.2309% |
| 1926 | #73 | 2,647 | 0.2384% |
| 1925 | #76 | 2,636 | 0.2362% |
| 1924 | #76 | 2,677 | 0.2363% |
| 1923 | #77 | 2,528 | 0.2306% |
| 1922 | #77 | 2,521 | 0.2317% |
| 1921 | #74 | 2,616 | 0.2375% |
| 1920 | #75 | 2,554 | 0.2400% |
| 1919 | #80 | 2,250 | 0.2296% |
| 1918 | #77 | 2,442 | 0.2410% |
| 1917 | #82 | 2,102 | 0.2271% |
| 1916 | #85 | 1,954 | 0.2195% |
| 1915 | #82 | 1,977 | 0.2330% |
| 1914 | #85 | 1,414 | 0.2160% |
| 1913 | #81 | 1,160 | 0.2263% |
| 1912 | #79 | 1,006 | 0.2340% |
| 1911 | #77 | 540 | 0.2390% |
| 1910 | #81 | 435 | 0.2240% |
| 1909 | #80 | 377 | 0.2299% |
| 1908 | #84 | 327 | 0.2119% |
| 1907 | #80 | 324 | 0.2207% |
| 1906 | #87 | 263 | 0.1975% |
| 1905 | #87 | 274 | 0.2071% |
| 1904 | #90 | 241 | 0.1881% |
| 1903 | #76 | 287 | 0.2407% |
| 1902 | #86 | 248 | 0.2022% |
| 1901 | #87 | 208 | 0.1954% |
| 1900 | #85 | 310 | 0.2060% |
| 1899 | #93 | 188 | 0.1770% |
| 1898 | #83 | 251 | 0.2046% |
| 1897 | #81 | 229 | 0.2031% |
| 1896 | #86 | 235 | 0.1965% |
| 1895 | #87 | 219 | 0.1866% |
| 1894 | #84 | 236 | 0.2039% |
| 1893 | #88 | 211 | 0.1879% |
| 1892 | #101 | 187 | 0.1532% |
| 1891 | #104 | 150 | 0.1482% |
| 1890 | #87 | 197 | 0.1774% |
| 1889 | #94 | 184 | 0.1664% |
| 1888 | #90 | 196 | 0.1622% |
| 1887 | #99 | 147 | 0.1450% |
| 1886 | #109 | 142 | 0.1282% |
| 1885 | #99 | 146 | 0.1354% |
| 1884 | #103 | 150 | 0.1311% |
| 1883 | #97 | 140 | 0.1338% |
| 1882 | #114 | 131 | 0.1152% |
| 1881 | #104 | 121 | 0.1201% |
| 1880 | #114 | 118 | 0.1068% |
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 Leon
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.
Past Favorite Boy Names
Explore More Lists with Name Leon
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with L
Unique Short Boy Names That Start with L
How the Name Leon 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 are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Leon's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Leon's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.