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Home › Baby Names Directory › Leonardo

Leonardo

♂ Boy

Pronounced lee-oh-NAR-doh /ˌliː.oʊˈnɑːr.doʊ/High

Meaning: Brave as a lion; lion-bold — from Old High German Leon (lion) + hard (brave, hardy)High

In 30 seconds: An Italian form of Leonard meaning 'brave as a lion.' Borne by Leonardo da Vinci — history's greatest polymath — it carries centuries of artistic and scientific genius.
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Origin HighItalian, Old High German
MeaningBrave as a lion; lion-bold — from Old High German Leon (lion) + hard (brave, hardy)
U.S. rank (2025)#91 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births3,789 boys (0.22% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 96,032

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201918852025

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

Leonardo is the Italian form of Leonard, from the Old High German Leonhard, composed of leon (lion) and hard (brave, hardy, strong). It was a popular name in medieval Italy.

The name gained its greatest lustre from Leonardo da Vinci. In the United States it rose sharply in the late 20th century, partly through actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and entered the U.S. top 100 boys' names.

Did you know? Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was born in the Tuscan town of Vinci — his name simply means 'Leonardo from Vinci.'

Variations

LeonardLeonhardLéonardNardo

Nicknames

LeoNardoLenny

Famous Bearers

  • ★Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)
    Italian Renaissance polymath — painter of the Mona Lisa, inventor, scientist, and architect.
  • ★Leonardo DiCaprio (1974–)
    American actor and Academy Award winner, known for Titanic and The Revenant.

If you like Leonardo…

Mateo— Italian/Spanish Biblical classic with the same rich Latin-American appeal
Gabriel— Latin angelic name with the same grand four-syllable resonance
Luca— crisp Italian classic with the same Mediterranean warmth
Leopoldo— shares the -do ending
Abelardo— a fellow Italian choice

Explore names like Leonardo

By meaningBrave / CourageLion

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Leonardo mean?

Leonardo is the Italian form of Leonard, from Old High German elements meaning 'lion' and 'brave/hardy,' giving 'brave as a lion.'

How do you pronounce Leonardo?

It is said lee-oh-NAR-doh /ˌliː.oʊˈnɑːr.doʊ/ — four syllables, stress on the third.

Is Leonardo a boy or girl name?

Leonardo is used exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Leonardo?

Leonardo has been in the U.S. top 100 boys' names in recent years, buoyed by both da Vinci's legacy and Leonardo DiCaprio's fame.

💬 Ask Nia