Leon

Leon comes from the Greek “leon” (λεων) meaning ‘lion’. The Latin equivalent is Leo and they are considered interchangeable at this point. The name Leon has been common among Jewish people owing to Genesis 49:9 when, prior to his death, Jacob gathers his twelve sons for his final blessing and foretells their respective futures. To his fourth son Judah he said: “Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.” The Kingdom of Judah became one of the two Jewish states (the other being the Kingdom of Israel) around the 10th century B.C. and is where the royal line of David ruled (the capital being Jerusalem). The lion therefore became an important symbol to the Jews. Aside from the Jewish connection, Leonidas I was a 5th century B.C. King of Sparta admired for his bravery and leadership, and believed to be descended from Hercules. The lion is a powerful and regal animal so it’s no wonder that many people of different languages have readily adopted this name. It is currently quite popular around the world (even if that can no longer be said for the United States). It’s a top name in Croatia, Austria, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden. It is also ranked high in Ireland, England and Scotland. France and Holland also embrace this name.