Fun Facts About the Name Leonides
- 711 babies named Leonides: U.S. records list 711 babies given the name Leonides from 1880 through 2025. Even 18 girls received the name Leonides - about 1 girl for every 39 boys.
What Does the Name Leonides Mean?
Leonides is a masculine name of ancient Greek origin. It comes from the Greek Λεωνίδης (Leōnidēs), formed from λέων (leōn), meaning "lion," and the patronymic suffix -ίδης (-idēs), meaning "son of" or "descendant of." Its literal sense is therefore "son of Leon" or "son of a lion." The suffix marks descent, as in Atreidēs, "son of Atreus." Because leōn itself means "lion," the name is sometimes interpreted more loosely as "lion-like," but that is a customary reading rather than the strict force of the Greek suffix.
Leonides Name History & Origins
Leonides is an ancient Greek name. Its patronymic formation suggests that it began as a way to identify a man as the son of someone named Leon, and patronymics of this type could become fixed given names or family names in Greek usage. The name appears in the Greek-speaking world in antiquity and was later used in Latin and Christian contexts.
One notable early bearer was Leonides of Alexandria, a Christian who was the father of the theologian Origen. He was martyred in the early third century, traditionally in 202, and is commemorated as a martyr in some Christian traditions. The name Leonides is distinct from the similar-looking Leonidas (Λεωνίδας), the name of the Spartan king famous for the Battle of Thermopylae. Leonidas uses a different Greek suffix (-ίδας), and the two names, though both built on leōn ("lion"), should not be treated as the same name.
In modern Greek, Λεωνίδης is also found as a surname. The form Leónides is used as a masculine given name in Spanish.
How Popular is the Name Leonides?
Leonides has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2015. Its best rank was #2,333 in 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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | #8,625 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #9,011 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1919 | #4,550 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,471 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #5,553 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2023 | #11,672 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #8,704 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #7,396 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #7,299 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #6,282 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #5,444 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #5,687 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #6,215 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #5,428 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2014 | #7,348 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #6,865 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #5,625 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2011 | #8,502 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #5,922 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #10,557 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #5,953 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #10,446 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #8,464 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #8,784 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #10,806 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #10,349 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #7,411 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #8,856 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #6,633 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #6,318 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #9,172 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #8,820 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #7,469 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #7,442 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #3,947 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #4,477 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #5,771 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #4,873 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #5,032 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #4,632 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #4,442 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #7,377 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #4,546 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #6,038 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #4,439 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #3,532 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #5,282 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #4,263 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #4,038 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #4,029 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #3,626 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #4,996 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #4,854 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #2,757 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1971 | #5,350 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #4,528 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #3,473 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #2,519 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #2,706 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #2,894 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #2,708 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #2,761 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #3,504 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #2,816 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #2,620 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #3,102 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #3,665 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #3,979 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #3,521 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #3,255 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #2,333 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #2,759 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1934 | #3,978 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #4,611 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #4,601 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #4,112 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #3,375 | 8 | 0.0008% |
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.
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How the Name Leonides 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 an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Leonides's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Leonides's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.