Fantasy OC - PC Names - Male

Derived from Old English leof "dear, beloved" + ric "power; reign; kingdom". A notable historical bearer is Leofric, Earl of Mercia: he was the husband of Lady Godiva, who (legend has it) promised his wife that he would reduce taxation if she rode naked through the streets of Coventry.

A chic French vintage name on the rise there for both sexes, which would make for an unconventional route to Leo.

Leon and related names like Leonardo and Leonidas are hot right now, but somehow this member of the family remains rare.

A variation of Lionel that has made slow but steady gains in recent years, perhaps helped by the resurgence of Leo.

This form got noticed as the first name of long-reigning Russian president Brezhnev; other bearers include playwright and short-story writer Andreyev, Leonid the Magnificent,a Russian performance artist on America's Got Talent, and Leonid McGill, the protagonist of a Walter Mosley private eye series. All in all, though, Leonid is not the most likely to join the pride of lion-related names here.

Leonidas is an ancient name that has started rising again along with centuries-old names such as Augustus and Cato. The original Leonidas was the most famous of Sparta's warriors, sacrificing his life at the Battle of Thermopylae; there is also a saint Leonidas.

The etymology of Leontel is unclear, though it could be seen as a variation of Lionel. It has rarely been used anywhere, though it does have more French connections than anything. While the nickname Leon might seem a little dated, Leo is right on trend.

Spelling variation of Lior.

Levent is a common name in Turkey, derived from Ottoman Turkish levend — a soldier in the Ottoman navy. The name also has connections to the Venetian navy in renaissance times.

This short form of Elias is gaining traction in Sweden, it’s culture of origin. The trendy S-ending and similarity to Liam make Lias a gem of an international boy name.

An offbeat way to celebrate this virtue.