Leon

lee-on; Leh-on; Lay-on

Greek variation of Leo

"lion"

Leon Origin and Meaning

The name Leon is a boy's name of German, Greek origin meaning "lion".

Currently overshadowed by the bright and lively Leo, Leon feels a slightly more serious, more quietly confident than its short and trending counterpart.

Just as leonine as Leo and Leonardo, Leon is popular across Europe, ranking in the Top 40 in Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, Germany and Finland. It has dipped in and out of the UK Top 100, but as of 2022, it is back.

Leon peaked in the US in the 1920s, but it is on the rise again as parents turn to familiar-but-less-used alternatives to the most popular names. In 2023, it was in the US Top 200, and given to nearly 2500 boys.

A name with history, Russian Marxist revolutionary Lev Davidovich Bronstein is better known to history as Leon Trotsky. Leon (LAY-on) has been the name of three French prime ministers, while Leon Russell (born Claude) is a respected singer-songwriter.

Leon Rank in US Top 1000

# 148 in the US

Leon Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 138 on Nameberry

Leon Popularity

• 148 US 2023
• 138 Nameberry 2024
• 82 Canada 2023
• 138 Future 2028
• 91 England 2023
• 69 Scotland 2023
• 80 Ireland 2023
• 82 Australia 2023
• 95 New Zealand 2023
• 4 Germany 2023
• 141 Netherlands 2015
• 12 Sweden 2022
• 38 Norway 2023
• 33 Finland 2023
• 58 Iceland 2021
• 12 Belgium 2023
• 8 Switzerland 2023
• 7 Austria 2023
• 6 Poland 2023
• 24 Slovenia 2023
• 30 Chile 2021
• 95 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2023
• 14 Croatia 2023

20 Names Similar to Leon

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Leon.

• Leo
• Oscar
• Damian
• Conrad
• Felix
• Theo
• Mateo
• Nico
• Louis
• Lucian
• Julian
• Desmond
• Orion
• Lucas
• Darius
• Wolf
• Elio
• Elias
• Hector
• Dorian

Famous People Named Leon

• Leon Leonwood Bean founder of L.L. Bean
• Leon Battista Alberti Italian Renaissance man
• Leon Eric "Kix" Brooks American country music singer of duo Brooks & Dunn
• Leon Trotsky (born Lev Davidovich Bronstein) Russian revolutionary
• Leon Curtis Frierson American actor/comedian
• Leon Lastarza Lafayette Lorenzo Hall American NFL football player
• Leon Edward Panetta former U.S. Secretary of Defense
• Leon Preston Robinson IV American actor
• Leon Spinks American boxer
• Leon G. Thomas III American actor, record producer, songwriter, and singer
• Leon Dewitt Washington American football player
• Leon Williams American football player
• Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges) American musician
• Leon James "Lee" DeWyze American singer,songwriter
• Leon Brittan former English MP
• Leon Frank Sylvers III American singer,songwriter
• Todd Michael "Leon" Bridges American gospel/soul singer
• Leon Frank Czolgosz American anarchist who assassinated U.S. President William McKinley
• Leon Bailey Jamaican professional footballer
• Leon Jackson Scottish singer, winner of The X Factor 2007
• Leon Oliveira Martins aka Coisa de Nerd Brazilian YouTuber
• LÉON stage name of Swedish singer,songwriter Lotta Lindgren
• Léon Bruel (b. 2005) son of singer Patrick Bruel
• Leon (b. 2010) son of singer Zhana Bergendorff
• Leon von Fürstenberg (b. 2012) son of Prince Alexander von Fürstenberg and Ali Kay
• Leon Kroos (b. 2013) son of footballer Toni Kroos
• Leon Castro (b. 2013) son of actress Mercedes Scápola and Mariano Castro
• Leon Alexandre Biaggi son of motorcyclist Max Biaggi and beauty queen Eleonora Pedron
• Leon Bell son of guitarist Andy Bell of Oasis and singer Idha Övelius
• Leon Alexander Krull son of singers Liv Kristine and Alexander Krull of Atrocity
• Leon Kostelić (b. 2016) son of skier Ivica Kostelić
• Knox Leon Jolie Pitt, son of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Leon in Pop Culture

• Léon Montana main character in 1994 film "Léon: The Professional"
• Leon Black character played by JB Smoove on "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
• Leon Scott Kennedy main character in the Resident Evil series
• Leon Phelps The Ladies Man, character played by Tim Meadows on TV's "Saturday Night Live" and in a 2000 movie
• Leon Vance a character on TV's "NCIS"
• Leon Kompowsky character who impersonated Michael Jackson (voiced by the real Michael Jackson), in an episode of "The Simpsons"
• Leon character in movie "Eloise at the Plaza"
• Leon character in The Fast and the Furious series
• Sir Leon knight in Arthurian legends
• Leon Grey main character in the series "Birthmarked" by Caragh M. O'Brien
• Leon Reborn's pet chameleon in the manga and anime, 'Katekyo Hitman Reborn!'
• Leon a former dragon priest and eligible bachelor in the 3DS game Rune Factory 4
• LEON English Vocaloid
• Leon character in TV series, "Canimals".
• Kings of Leon American Rock Band
• León former Spanish kingdom