Leonid
From Latin Leō (“lion; the constellation Leo”, stem Leōn-) + -id.
Every Leonid since 1959 — 494 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Leonid
Leonid is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,746 in 2025 with 16 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1959, 494 American babies have been named Leonid. Its peak came in 2022, when 30 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 Leonid stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Leonid year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | #5,746 |
| 2024 | 25 | #4,278 |
| 2023 | 25 | #4,292 |
| 2022 | 30 | #3,738 |
| 2021 | 27 | #3,964 |
| 2020 | 18 | #5,155 |
| 2019 | 15 | #5,992 |
| 2018 | 22 | #4,551 |
| 2017 | 20 | #4,861 |
| 2016 | 27 | #3,941 |
| 2015 | 17 | #5,427 |
| 2014 | 18 | #5,178 |
| 2013 | 20 | #4,735 |
| 2012 | 17 | #5,404 |
| 2011 | 18 | #5,107 |
| 2010 | 17 | #5,386 |
| 2009 | 21 | #4,685 |
| 2008 | 9 | #8,728 |
| 2007 | 15 | #5,811 |
| 2006 | 8 | #9,240 |
| 2005 | 10 | #7,450 |
| 2004 | 12 | #6,372 |
| 2003 | 6 | #10,347 |
| 2002 | 12 | #5,929 |
| 2001 | 8 | #8,017 |
| 2000 | 6 | #9,825 |
| 1995 | 6 | #8,443 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Leonid
- Leonid Brezhnev Politician · 1906–1982
- Leonid Kuchma Politician · b. 1938
- Leonid Kravchuk Politician · b. 1934
- Leonid Kantorovich Mathematician · 1912–1986
- Leonid Govorov Military personnel · 1897–1955
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leonid mean?
From Latin Leō (“lion; the constellation Leo”, stem Leōn-) + -id.
How popular is the name Leonid in 2025?
Leonid ranked #5,746 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 16 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Leonid?
494 babies have been named Leonid in the United States since 1959, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Leonid most popular?
Leonid peaked in 2022, when 30 newborns received the name.
Is Leonid a boy or girl name?
Leonid is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Leonid rising or falling?
Leonid is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Leonid?
Well-known people named Leonid include Leonid Brezhnev (politician), Leonid Kuchma (politician), Leonid Kravchuk (politician).