Leonidas

How to say it

liˈɒn.ɪ.dəs

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.

Heads-up notes

• Nickname

  Leo, Leon.

• Pop culture

  King Leonidas of Sparta and the 300.

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.

• Leonidas king of Sparta who died at the Battle of Thermopylae

Spelling variants

• Leónidas
• Leonid
• Leonidis

Names with the same feeling

• Leonardo Brave lion
• Leon Lion
• Leo Lion
• Atlas Bearer, enduring
• Atticus From Attica

See Leonidas from another angle

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.