Leo
LEE-oh · 2 syllables
♂ Male ◎ Latin ◈ 2 syllables
"Lion, brave, lion-hearted"

From Latin

Leo means lion — the king of beasts in three letters. It's the zodiac sign of natural leaders (July 23–August 22). Leonardo DiCaprio goes by Leo. Pope Leo I (the Great) convinced Attila the Hun to spare Rome. Tolstoy's first name was Leo. It's a name that roars without raising its voice: three letters of absolute confidence.

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Leo at a glance
MeaningLion, brave, lion-hearted
OriginLatin
GenderMale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 5
US Rank (today)#45
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Why parents love Leo
  • The meaning lion is the most powerful animal symbol.
  • Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the biggest movie stars alive.
  • Three letters, one syllable — maximum impact, minimum letters.
  • Leo Tolstoy wrote one of the greatest novels ever (War and Peace).
  • The zodiac Leo symbolises leadership and courage.
The vibe of Leo
lionzodiacDiCaprioTolstoypapalthree-lettersroaringking-of-beasts
Origin & history of Leo
Latin leo (lion) given name Leo
1
Latin roots
Leo comes from the Latin word for lion. Thirteen popes have taken the name Leo, including Leo I (the Great), who persuaded Attila the Hun not to sack Rome in 452 AD. Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) wrote War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Leonardo DiCaprio is universally known as Leo. The zodiac sign Leo (July 23–August 22) represents leadership, creativity, and courage. Leo has surged into the US top 30.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Ancient Rome — thirteen popes have been named Leo; Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910).
3
Today
Leo remains a beloved choice, ranking #45 in the US. 253,873 babies have been named Leo since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
How popular is Leo?
2022 peak year
Leo found its strongest footing in the 2020s, peaking at #22 nationally. In 2022, 8,290 babies were named Leo (ranked #22 nationally). It remains in active use today at in the top fifty (#45), with roughly 6,962 babies per year. Leo has been trending upward in recent years. The all-time total comes to roughly 253,873 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
8,290 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #22)
6,962 Avg. per year
(last decade)
69,620 Total registrations
last 10 years
253,873 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #45) Very popular
↑ Trending upward in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Leo
5
Life path number
The Adventurer
Freedom, adventure and curiosity.

Leo's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — the lion who leads the pride. People named Leo tend to be confident, charismatic, and natural-born leaders.

Natural-born leader
Lion confidence
Roars without volume
Three-letter king
Pride leader
L3
E5
O6
Sum: 14 → Life path 5
Personality of Leo
🌍
Free spirit
Adventure calls and they always answer.
Electric energy
Things happen around them — exciting, unexpected.
🦋
Adaptable
New situations are opportunities, never threats.
💬
Natural charmer
There's something magnetic about them.
Names that sound like Leo

If you love Leo, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.

Names that combine with Leo

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Leo.

Middle names for Leo

The right middle name turns Leo into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

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Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Leo is a beautiful choice.
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