Leonidas means son of the lion — from the Greek leon (lion). King Leonidas of Sparta led 300 warriors at Thermopylae — the most legendary last stand in history. 300 Spartans held off the entire Persian army. THIS IS SPARTA. Four syllables of the most legendary last stand, 300-against-an-empire, and the lion-king who held the pass.
Four syllables with the most powerful sound: lee-ON-ih-das.
THIS. IS. SPARTA.
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The vibe of Leonidas
son of lionGreekleonSparta300Thermopylaelast standPersian armyTHIS IS SPARTA
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Origin & history of Leonidas
Greek leon (lion)→Leonidas (son of lion)
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Greek roots
Leonidas means son of the lion. King Leonidas held Thermopylae with 300 Spartans against the Persian army — the most legendary last stand.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: King Leonidas (c. 540–480 BC).
3
Today
Leonidas remains a beloved choice, ranking #481 in the US. 9,686 babies have been named Leonidas since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Leonidas?
2022peak year
Leonidas reached its widest reach during the 2020s. In 2022, 758 babies received the name (ranked #421). In the present decade it sits around #481, with about 624 babies given the name annually. Leonidas's usage has held roughly steady recently. The all-time total comes to roughly 9,686 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Leonidas's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — 300-Spartan leadership. People named Leonidas tend to be powerful, legendary, and gifted at holding the pass with 300 against an empire.
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