Leo

Updated: October 17, 2023 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Leo began as a nickname, but it is actually a word in Latin culture that means “lion.” This powerful name associates itself with so much strength, especially when considering so many popes and rulers have had it. Even now, Leo is popular around the world, maybe because of actor Leonardo DiCaprio who goes by Leo sometimes.

Meaning of the Name Leo

Leo became a name as early as the fifth century as a nickname for Leon to start. There were at least 13 popes in the early church that had this name, five kings in Armenia, and six emperors in Byzantine.

It is such an important name to eastern Europe, and remains essential in modern culture too as a top 50 name. Leo is the literal Latin translation of the word “lion.” The Latin word for this animal is literally “leo.”

Nicknames for Leo

Leo is strong and powerful. The name still has some humility and feels kind. If you're looking for inspiration when it comes to nicknaming the Leo in your life, we've come up with a list of possible options to get you started.

Lion
Lee
El
Leone
Oh
LeeLee
Little Lion
Leonardo

Leo Name Details

Style: Classical

Gender: Leo is traditionally considered to be a boys name.

Pronunciation: LEE-oh

Syllables: Two

Alternative Spellings for Leo

Lio
Lyo
Leogh
Leoh

Leo Name Popularity

From 1900 to 1921 and in 1923, Leo was a top 50 name. It remained a top 100 name until 1936, however. As of 2014, Leo is back to being a top 100 name. As of 2019, it became a top 50 name and in 2020, it ranked at number 36.