Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name 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.

All About the Baby Name – Leon

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME LEON

The number one personality is a leader - strong and competitive. They are willing to initiate action and take risks. One personalities work hard toward their endeavors and have the ability to apply their creative and innovative thinking skills with strong determination. They believe in their ability to succeed and are too stubborn to be hindered by obstacles. Ones meet obstacles head-on with such mental vigor and energy that you better step aside. They resent taking orders, so don't try telling them what to do either. This is an intensely active personality, but they are also known as starters rather than finishers. They have a propensity to become bored and will move quickly to the next project if not properly challenged.  They are the ones to think up and put into action new and brilliant ideas, but they are not the ones to stick around and manage them. This personality has an enthusiastic and pioneering spirit. They are distinctly original.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME LEON

Leon has experienced remarkable popularity within the United States. The name has been on the male naming charts since at least the late 19th century (when the government first began tracking naming trends). Back at the turn of the 20th century, Leon was a Top 100 favorite. Not surprisingly, the ‘lion’ has universal appeal inside the melting pot that is America. By the 1950s, however, it was clear that Leon was on the decline. The name slowly dropped in popularity without much fuss. Today, the name Leon is experiencing his lowest point on the charts in over 100 years. This is now a lightly used name among American parents. What we find so cool about this name is its widespread usage among Jews, Christians, Agnostics, native English-speakers, African-Americans, Spanish-speaking folks (León) and the French (Léon, where the diminutive is Lionel). Not to mention the mighty and brave symbolism of its meaning (i.e., the lion). It’s for these reasons that we think Leon is just a really cool choice for a boy’s name.

Quick Facts

ON LEON

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

French

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

325

PRONUNCIATION:

lee-AWN

SIMPLE MEANING:

Lion

Characteristics

OF LEON

Independent

Individualistic

Ambitious

Strong-willed

Inventive

Successful

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Leon

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME LEON

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Leon

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME LEON

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Leon


Popular Songs

ON LEON

Noel Leon
a song by George Strait

Neon Leon
a song by Sammy Kershaw

Leon Takes Us Outside
a song by David Bowie

Leon McDuff
a song by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Leon
a song by Roger Daltrey

Famous People

NAMED LEON

Leon Trotsky (Russian Communist revolutionary)
Leon Spinks (boxer)
Leon Uris (novelist)
Leon Bix Beiderbecke (jazz musician)
Leon Day (baseball player)

Children of Famous People

NAMED LEON

Madonna;

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME LEON

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Leon