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Theme
Masculine

Leo

ˈli.oʊ

Lion

Latin

How to say it

LEE · oh

ˈli.oʊ

What it means

From the Latin leo, meaning lion. A short name that carries a whole animal.

Thirteen popes Leo (Leo the Great being the 5th-century pope who turned Attila back from Rome), several saints, and the zodiac sign. The name's modern surge is partly an Italian thing (Leo as the short form of Leonardo, Leonidas, or Leon) and partly its own quietly distilled name. Spanish León and Italian Leo are widely used in their home languages. Currently US top thirty for boys and climbing fast. Often paired with Levi or Theo in sibling sets.

How to spell Leo

The standard spelling is Leo. Common variants include León, Leon, Leonardo, Lev, but Leo is the most widely used form.

Popularity over time

#10 #100 #1 #48618802025

peaked at #18 in 2023, currently #19 in 2025.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving

Heads-up notes

  • Nickname

    Often given as Leo outright; sometimes a short for Leonardo, Leonidas, or Leopold.

Who's worn it

Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.

  • Leonardo DiCaprio Actor, Titanic and The Revenant, known to friends as Leo
  • Leo Tolstoy Russian novelist, War and Peace and Anna Karenina
  • Pope Leo (multiple) 13 popes named Leo since the 5th century

Spelling variants

  • León
  • Leon
  • Leonardo
  • Lev

Common questions

What does the name Leo mean?
From the Latin leo, meaning lion. A short name that carries a whole animal.
What does Leo mean in Latin?
In Latin, Leo means "Lion." Thirteen popes Leo (Leo the Great being the 5th-century pope who turned Attila back from Rome), several saints, and the zodiac sign. The name's modern surge is partly an Italian thing (Leo as the short form of Leonardo, Leonidas, or Leon) and partly its own quietly distilled name. Spanish León and Italian Leo are widely used in their home languages. Currently US top thirty for boys and climbing fast. Often paired with Levi or Theo in sibling sets.
Is Leo short for Leonardo?
Yes. Leo is a short form of Leonardo, and it carries the same meaning, "Lion." These days many parents use Leo as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
How do you pronounce Leo?
Leo is pronounced ˈli.oʊ. Say it as LEE-oh, with the stress on the "lee" syllable.
How do you spell Leo?
The standard spelling is Leo. Common spelling variants include León, Leon, Leonardo, Lev.
Is Leo a boy or girl name?
Leo is traditionally a masculine name.
How popular is the name Leo?
Leo ranked #19 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.