Leo Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Leo is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Leo?
Leo is spelled L-E-O. The name has 3 letters.
Leo at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- The name “Leo” derives from the Latin word for “lion.”
- Origin
- Leo is associated with Latin origins, where it functions as a given name representing the animal lion.
- Pronunciation
- LEE-oh · 2 syllables
Leo Popularity in 2025
Rank#5,410
Recorded Births23
Rank#19
Recorded Births8,173
- Girls usage rose 984 places to #5,410 and recorded 5 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 5 places to #19 and recorded 350 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Leo Mean?
The name “Leo” derives from the Latin word for “lion.”
Origin: Leo is associated with Latin origins, where it functions as a given name representing the animal lion.
How Do You Pronounce Leo?
PronunciationLEE-oh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Leo?
- History
- The name Leo has historical use in Roman and Christian contexts, appearing among several popes and saints, indicating its longstanding presence in European naming traditions.
Leo Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 23 | #5,410 |
| 2025 | Boys | 8,173 | #19 |
| 2024 | Girls | 18 | #6,394 |
| 2024 | Boys | 7,823 | #24 |
| 2023 | Girls | 28 | #4,746 |
| 2023 | Boys | 8,160 | #18 |
| 2022 | Girls | 32 | #4,378 |
| 2022 | Boys | 8,293 | #22 |
| 2021 | Girls | 32 | #4,326 |
| 2021 | Boys | 7,803 | #31 |
| 2020 | Girls | 31 | #4,358 |
| 2020 | Boys | 7,229 | #36 |
| 2019 | Girls | 22 | #5,612 |
| 2019 | Boys | 7,504 | #40 |
| 2018 | Girls | 19 | #6,248 |
| 2018 | Boys | 6,773 | #50 |
| 2017 | Girls | 17 | #6,808 |
| 2017 | Boys | 5,965 | #62 |
| 2016 | Girls | 13 | #8,393 |
| 2016 | Boys | 5,299 | #74 |
| 2015 | Girls | 11 | #9,481 |
| 2015 | Boys | 4,603 | #91 |
| 2014 | Girls | 16 | #7,302 |
| 2014 | Boys | 3,976 | #97 |
When Was Leo Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2022 · Boys
8,293 recorded births
National rank #22
2025 · Boys
8,173 recorded births
National rank #19
2023 · Boys
8,160 recorded births
National rank #18
2024 · Boys
7,823 recorded births
National rank #24
Where Leo Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| IL | #8 | 385 |
| MN | #9 | 207 |
| SD | #9 | 40 |
| NY | #11 | 625 |
| ND | #11 | 31 |
| NJ | #13 | 298 |
| VT | #13 | 18 |
| MA | #14 | 223 |