Will my child share the name Leo with classmates?

Probably not in their specific class, but possible. With around 3,278 UK babies named Leo per year, your child will likely be the only Leo in their class. In a school of 600, however, expect to find around ~1.7 others.

Is Leo becoming more or less popular in the UK?

Leo is at its highest recorded position — #3 in 2025, with 3,278 births. In 2020 it ranked #6.

What does the name Leo mean?

The name Leo has Latin origins and means "Lion". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.

Who are some famous people named Leo?

Notable people named Leo include: Ben Leo and Leo Lyons.

Is Leo a popular baby name in the United States?

Leo ranks #24 in the US (2024), comfortably inside the American top 100.

👦 Boy's name 🔥 Very Popular UK #3

Leo

🗳️ Add Leo to a family shortlist

Leo is one of the most popular baby names in the UK, ranked #3 in 2025. With 3,278 babies given this name, your child will likely be the only Leo in their class — but in a school of 600, expect around ~1.7 others.

Origin & Meaning

Latin — Lion

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UK Rank 2025

US Rank #19

About the Name Leo

Leo is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 5488 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #5 in 2022 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 24 of the last 30 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.

The name carries Latin roots, where it means "Lion". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.

Leo is one of the most popular names in the UK — yet even so, another Leo turns up in only about 1 class in 6.

It ranks similarly in the US at #19, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.

⭐ Famous People Named Leo

Ben Leo — Ben Leo is a British journalist and broadcaster known for his work with GB News and formerly The Sun newspaper.
Leo Lyons — Leo David William Lyons is an English musician, who was most known as the bassist of the blues rock band Ten Years After.

Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.