How to say it
LE · on
/ˈliː.ɒn/
Masculine
Leon
Lion
What it means
Greek leōn ('lion'), the same root as Leo. The Spanish León gave its name to the city in Mexico and to a Spanish kingdom. Léon the Professional (1994) is the strongest modern English-language anchor.
Leon comes from the Greek leōn ('lion'), the same root as Leo, Leonardo, Leonid, and the city of León in Spain. Six popes took the name (Pope Leo I 'the Great' through Leo XIII), but the Latin form Leo is what's typically used in church contexts. The Spanish-speaking and German-speaking worlds use Leon as a given name in its own right. Léon the Professional (Luc Besson's 1994 film, Jean Reno as the title character) is the strongest modern English-language anchor. The English Leon has been climbing the US charts since 2010, particularly in Latino families. Common short: Leo (which is its own standalone name).
Popularity over time
peaked at #73 in 1926, currently #138 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
LEE-on (English) or LAY-ohn (Spanish León). The Spanish accent on the O changes the stress.
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.
- Léon the Professional Jean Reno's character in Luc Besson's 1994 film
- Leon Trotsky Russian revolutionary and rival of Stalin, 1879-1940
Spelling variants
- León
- Leo
- Leonid
Names with the same feeling
See Leon from another angle
By style