How to say it
le · ON · i · das
liˈɒn.ɪ.dəs
Masculine
Leonidas
Son of the lion
What it means
Greek, 'son of the lion' or 'lion-like,' from leon, 'lion.'
Leonidas comes from the Greek leon, 'lion,' giving 'son of the lion' or 'lion-like.' King Leonidas led the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, sealing the name's heroic, fearless ring. Grand and strong, it shortens neatly to Leo or Leon. Said lee-ON-ih-dus.
How to spell Leonidas
The standard spelling is Leonidas. Common variants include Leónidas, Leonid, Leonidis, but Leonidas is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #421 in 2022, currently #510 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Leo, Leon.
- Pop culture
King Leonidas of Sparta and the 300.
Who's worn it
- Leonidas king of Sparta who died at the Battle of Thermopylae
Spelling variants
- Leónidas
- Leonid
- Leonidis
Names with the same feeling
See Leonidas from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Leonidas mean?
- Greek, 'son of the lion' or 'lion-like,' from leon, 'lion.'
- What does Leonidas mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Leonidas means "Son of the lion." Leonidas comes from the Greek leon, 'lion,' giving 'son of the lion' or 'lion-like.' King Leonidas led the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, sealing the name's heroic, fearless ring. Grand and strong, it shortens neatly to Leo or Leon. Said lee-ON-ih-dus.
- How do you pronounce Leonidas?
- Leonidas is pronounced liˈɒn.ɪ.dəs. Say it as le-ON-i-das, with the stress on the "on" syllable.
- How do you spell Leonidas?
- The standard spelling is Leonidas. Common spelling variants include Leónidas, Leonid, Leonidis.
- Is Leonidas a boy or girl name?
- Leonidas is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Leonidas?
- Leonidas ranked #510 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.