Leon

Updated: October 20, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Leon has been a top baby name in the United States for over a century. While it was falling out of favor for a bit, it's on the rise again, and we expect that trend to continue. After all, it's filled with symbolism that is important to many cultures and religions around the world. It's also short and sweet and pairs well with many middle names.

Meaning and Origin of the name Leon:

Leon is a strong boy's name of Greek origin meaning “lion.”

Leon comes from the Greek word léon, which means “lion.” The Latin name Leo, French name Lyon, Spanish name León, and Irish name Leon all came from the Geek word léon.

Symbolism of the name Leon:

The baby name Leon means “lion.” The animal symbolizes strength, courage, and majesty.

Nicknames for the name Leon:

Leon is a short and sweet boy's name. As a short name, there aren't many options for nicknames. We've compiled the nicknames for Leon in the list below to help you find the perfect one for your baby boy.

Lee
Leo
Lion
Leelee

Style of the name Leon:

Traditional

Gender of the name Leon:

Leon is a boy's name.

Pronunciation of the name Leon:

LEE-awn

Number of syllables in the name Leon:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Leon:

The baby name Leon evokes images of someone who is strong, competitive and a great leader.

Alternative spellings for the name Leon:

Leone
Leeon
Leyon

Popularity of the name Leon:

According to the Social Security Administration, Leon has been a top 1,000 baby name for boys in the United States since at least 1900. As of 2020, it ranked at number 196.