What Does the Name Leo Mean?
Leo is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning “lion.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Leo |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Latin |
| Meaning | lion |
| Variants | Leon, Leonardo, Lionel, Lev |
| Popularity | A US top 100 name that surged into the top 40 in the 2010s-2020s. |
The meaning and origin of Leo
The name Leo means “lion” and has Latin origins. From the Latin word for lion, borne by thirteen popes and several early saints. Also associated with the zodiac constellation and used as a short form of Leonard and Leopold.
Variants and related names
Leo is related to several other names you may recognize: Leon, Leonardo, Lionel, Lev. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Leo?
A US top 100 name that surged into the top 40 in the 2010s-2020s.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Leo below.
Generate a fake Leo profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leo mean?+
The name Leo means “lion” and is of Latin origin.
What is the origin of the name Leo?+
Leo originates from Latin.
Is Leo a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Leo has trended in the US over time.
Leo by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press