Leonard
Germanic name combining lewo, lion, with hard, brave or hardy. A sixth-century Frankish saint of the name carried it through medieval Europe.
Leonard in 2025
Leonard was given to 438 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 1,289th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 7,569 babies born.
The history of Leonard
Leonard reached its highest point in 1921, when 5,675 babies were given the name, ranking 83rd that year. Its best-ever ranking was 81st, in 1920.
Across the 146 years of records since 1880, 295,746 babies have been named Leonard. Half of them were born before 1942, which places the name's centre of gravity with the Silent Generation.
Leonard by decade
| Decade | Babies named Leonard | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,144 | 176 |
| 1890s | 3,173 | 180 |
| 1900s | 5,040 | 158 |
| 1910s | 32,025 | 84 |
| 1920s | 54,111 | 81 |
| 1930s | 39,421 | 99 |
| 1940s | 44,441 | 114 |
| 1950s | 43,730 | 158 |
| 1960s | 28,606 | 241 |
| 1970s | 15,933 | 293 |
| 1980s | 10,558 | 398 |
| 1990s | 6,267 | 613 |
| 2000s | 3,918 | 1,079 |
| 2010s | 3,933 | 1,249 |
| 2020s | 2,446 | 1,289 |
Where Leonard is heading
Leonard has risen 10% over the past decade, from 400 babies in 2015 to 438 in 2025.
Names like Leonard
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Leonard.