Leonard
How to say it: LEN-urd · /ˈlɛnərd/
From Old High German 'Leonhard' meaning 'lion-hard' or 'brave as a lion'; name of a popular medieval saint.
Leonard was the 598th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 438 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1920s, its births are up about 9% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #614 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 | #598 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 438 |
| Share of births | 1 in 7,569 |
| Peak decade | 1920s |
| Change over 10 years | +9% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #614 |
| In France, 2025 | #124 among boys’ names, 535 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Far from its high in the 1920s, Leonard settled into steady but quieter use. Still present today, it is likely to drift a bit lower in the next few years.
What goes with it
Mellow and weighty with a soft rumble, Leonard feels strong and settled. Leo offers a lighter short form, while Alfred stands nearby in vintage tone.
Nicknames
- Leo
- Len
- Lenny
- Leon
Honouring a Leonard in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Leonard is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Swedish.
In France: #124 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #250. Ireland: #279.
Famous people named Leonard
- Leonard Cohen (1934–2016)Canadian singer, songwriter and poet
- Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990)American conductor and composer
- Leonard Nimoy (1931–2015)American actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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