Leon
Boy nameLeon has been given to 184,074 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 1924 and currently ranks #138 for boys (2025).
Meaning & origin /ˈliː.ɒn/
Ultimately from Latin Leo and leo (“lion”), from Ancient Greek Λέων (Léōn) and λέων (léōn, “lion”), likely ultimately from a non-Indo-European language. Sometimes via other related languages such as French Léon and sometimes as a diminutive of related names such as Leonard and Leonardo.
Origin: Latin, Ancient Greek
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
184,074
Peak year
1924 (2,714 babies)
Rank in 2025
#138 for boys
First recorded
1880
10-year trend
▲ +127%
Gender split
1% girls / 99% boys
Famous people named Leon
Leon Battista Alberti
Italian architect and writer (1404-1472)
Leon M. Lederman
American mathematician and physicist
Leon Cooper
American physicist (1930–2024)
Leo VI the Wise
Byzantine Emperor
Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Leon.
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