Leo
Every Leo since 1880 — 262,124 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Leo
Leo is a top-50 name for boys in the United States, ranked #19 in 2025 with 8,173 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 262,124 American babies have been named Leo. Its peak came in 2022, when 8,325 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Leo stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Leo year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | #5,492 | 8,173 | #19 |
| 2024 | 18 | #6,550 | 7,823 | #24 |
| 2023 | 28 | #4,818 | 8,160 | #18 |
| 2022 | 32 | #4,423 | 8,293 | #22 |
| 2021 | 32 | #4,373 | 7,803 | #31 |
| 2020 | 31 | #4,405 | 7,229 | #36 |
| 2019 | 22 | #5,723 | 7,504 | #40 |
| 2018 | 19 | #6,410 | 6,773 | #50 |
| 2017 | 17 | #6,979 | 5,965 | #62 |
| 2016 | 13 | #8,679 | 5,299 | #74 |
| 2015 | 11 | #9,872 | 4,603 | #91 |
| 2014 | 16 | #7,506 | 3,976 | #97 |
| 2013 | 9 | #11,553 | 3,511 | #112 |
| 2012 | 8 | #12,905 | 2,879 | #134 |
| 2011 | 6 | #15,943 | 2,250 | #167 |
| 2010 | — | — | 1,946 | #191 |
| 2009 | 6 | #16,379 | 1,802 | #210 |
| 2008 | 6 | #16,612 | 1,628 | #228 |
| 2007 | — | — | 1,531 | #238 |
| 2006 | — | — | 1,501 | #235 |
| 2005 | 7 | #13,850 | 1,275 | #259 |
| 2004 | 5 | #17,669 | 1,239 | #265 |
| 2003 | 8 | #11,939 | 1,095 | #285 |
| 2002 | 6 | #14,658 | 809 | #339 |
| 2001 | — | — | 736 | #360 |
| 2000 | — | — | 658 | #388 |
| 1995 | 5 | #14,755 | 446 | #486 |
| 1990 | — | — | 431 | #477 |
| 1985 | 5 | #11,660 | 447 | #405 |
| 1980 | — | — | 473 | #367 |
| 1975 | 7 | #7,599 | 516 | #336 |
| 1970 | 6 | #7,562 | 701 | #294 |
| 1965 | 6 | #6,188 | 902 | #247 |
| 1960 | 9 | #4,624 | 1,204 | #230 |
| 1955 | 9 | #4,243 | 1,576 | #175 |
| 1950 | 6 | #5,032 | 1,554 | #160 |
| 1945 | 11 | #2,846 | 1,582 | #139 |
| 1940 | 15 | #2,160 | 1,752 | #112 |
| 1935 | 13 | #2,376 | 2,142 | #92 |
| 1930 | 46 | #1,094 | 3,035 | #63 |
| 1925 | 53 | #1,042 | 3,775 | #54 |
| 1920 | 62 | #926 | 4,054 | #48 |
| 1915 | 48 | #960 | 3,527 | #47 |
| 1910 | 25 | #868 | 707 | #51 |
| 1905 | 14 | #1,042 | 512 | #46 |
| 1900 | 17 | #930 | 570 | #46 |
| 1895 | 7 | #1,369 | 509 | #42 |
| 1890 | 12 | #807 | 393 | #49 |
| 1885 | 11 | #679 | 199 | #83 |
| 1880 | 6 | #799 | 147 | #93 |
Famous people named Leo
- Leo Tolstoy Writer · 1828–1910
- Leo III the Isaurian Politician · 675–741
- Leo I the Thracian Politician · 401–474
- Leoš Janáček Composer · 1854–1928
- Leo VI the Wise Politician · 866–912
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Leo in 2025?
Leo ranked #19 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8,173 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Leo?
262,124 babies have been named Leo in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Leo most popular?
Leo peaked in 2022, when 8,325 newborns received the name.
Is Leo a boy or girl name?
Leo is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Leo rising or falling?
Leo is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Leo?
Well-known people named Leo include Leo Tolstoy (writer), Leo III the Isaurian (politician), Leo I the Thracian (politician).