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Home › Baby Names Directory › Leander

Leander

♂ Boy

Pronounced lee-AN-duhr /li.ˈæn.dəɹ/Medium

Meaning: LionMedium

In 30 seconds: Leander comes from Greek mythology and means 'lion'. It is a romantic, classical name with a heroic ring.
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Origin MediumGreek Mythology
MeaningLion
U.S. rank (2025)#1463 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births122 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,924

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202518802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Leander is a Greek name meaning 'lion', best known from mythology. It carries into Romance languages as the French Léandre and the Spanish and Italian Leandro. The 'lion' meaning gives it a bold, storied quality.

Bearers include the colonial-era figure Leander Starr Jameson (1853-1917) and the tennis player Leander Paes (born 1973). The name's flowing three syllables temper its fierce meaning with elegance.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Leander is 'lion', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Leander — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

LéandreLeandro

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Leander Starr Jameson (1853–1917)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Leander Paes (1973–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Leander…

Leandro— The Spanish and Italian form of the same 'lion' name.
Helios— the same nature feel
Alastor— a fellow Greek Mythology choice
Kairos— another Greek Mythology name
Nestor— a fellow Greek Mythology choice

Explore names like Leander

By themenaturegreek-mythology
By meaningLion

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Leander mean?

Leander is usually explained as meaning 'lion' and is most often linked with Greek Mythology tradition.

How do you pronounce Leander?

It's commonly said lee-AN-duhr /li.ˈæn.dəɹ/.

Is Leander a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Leander is used as a boy name.

How popular is Leander?

In 2024, Leander ranked #1752 in the U.S. for boys, with 94 births recorded.

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