Leo
How to say it: LEE-oh · /ˈlioʊ/
From Latin 'leo' meaning 'lion'. Used in ancient Rome and throughout Christian tradition as a papal and royal name.
Leo was the 27th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 8,173 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 77% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #17 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #27 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 8,173 |
| Share of births | 1 in 405 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +77% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #17 |
| In France, 2025 | #3 among boys’ names, 3,590 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Leo rides an upward path with its finest moment in the 2020s. Firmly at the summit, additional gains are expected in the near term.
What goes with it
Bright and nimble with soft tones plus strength and easy travel across languages, carrying nature charm and saint heritage. Milo harmonizes alongside.
Middle names that flow with Leo →
Honouring a Leo in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Leo is about 1 in 17.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #3 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #3. Ireland: #10.
Famous people named Leo
- Leo XIII (1810–1903)Pope of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903
- Leo I (390–461)Pope from 440 to 461
- Leo X (1475–1521)Pope from 1513 to 1521
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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