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Home › Baby Names Directory › Leo

Leo

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEE-oh /ˈli.oʊ/High

Meaning: From Latin leo, 'a lion' (and the zodiac sign Leo); more often a boy's name; here for girlsLow

In 30 seconds: A lion: Leo is Latin for 'a lion'. Crisp, bold, and warm. More often a boy's name; here for girls.
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Origin LowLatin
MeaningFrom Latin leo, 'a lion' (and the zodiac sign Leo); more often a boy's name; here for girls
U.S. rank (2024)#6518 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births18 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,113

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192018802024

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

Leo comes from Latin leo, 'a lion' — and the zodiac sign Leo. Borne by emperors and many popes. It is more often a boy's name, used here for girls (slug distinguished, which we flag honestly; the girls' feminine is often Leona or Leah).

It registers thinly for girls in the U.S. Rare for girls, a-lion at the root, and bold.

Did you know? Leo means 'a lion' (Latin, and the zodiac sign) — a crisp, bold name, more often given to boys but used here for girls (we flag the lean; said 'LEE-oh').
Overall data confidence 45%
Behind the Name — Leo — lean noted

Variations

LeonaLiaLeola

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Leo…

Leona— the feminine form
Lia— a sound-neighbor short girls' name
Nova— a fellow short modern unisex girls' name
Wren— another short unisex girls' name

Explore names like Leo

By themeuncertainlatinunisex
By meaningLion

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Leo mean?

Leo is Latin 'a lion' (and the zodiac sign). It is more often a boy's name, which we flag.

How do you pronounce Leo?

It's said LEE-oh /ˈli.oʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Leo a boy or girl name?

Leo is more often a boy's name; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Leo?

Leo is a rare name for girls in the U.S.

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