Boy name · Latin
Leo
“lion”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Leo.
Explore Leo further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Leo — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Leo is the Latin word for lion, used unchanged as a name since late antiquity. Thirteen popes have taken it, more than almost any other papal name, and it is also the constellation and the zodiac sign, which gives it a second life entirely separate from the animal.
It was a common American name around 1900, faded to near-invisibility by the 1970s, and has come back completely. It now sits at number 19 in the US and higher in Britain and Germany.
It is two open syllables and needs no short form. Pairs with two or three (Leo Sebastian, Leo Atticus). On our vibe map it is Vintage Elegant with a Mythological pull from the lion and the constellation both.
More Latin names
Leo sits in our Latin set — these share its roots.
All Latin names →Leo — common questions
Is Leo a boy or girl name?
Leo is traditionally a boy name of Latin origin.
What does the name Leo mean?
Leo means “lion” of Latin origin. Leo is the Latin word for lion, used unchanged as a name since late antiquity. Thirteen popes have taken it, more than almost any other papal name, and it is also the constellation and the zodiac sign, which gives it a second life entirely separate from the animal.
Where does the name Leo come from?
Leo is Latin in origin. It was a common American name around 1900, faded to near-invisibility by the 1970s, and has come back completely. It now sits at number 19 in the US and higher in Britain and Germany.
What are common nicknames for Leo?
Lee and Leo — the short-forms parents most often use for Leo.
How popular is Leo?
Leo did not make the top 1,000 boys' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Leo you might want for the nursery.