Leonard
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
295,296 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1921 Peak Popularity Year
5,675 Peak Births

Leonard Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

Leonard is of Germanic origin, meaning 'brave lion'. It evolved from forms like Leonhard and Leonardus. The name has been associated with nobility and strength throughout its history, with no specific biblical relevance. Variants include Leo and Lenny, and it continues to be a respected name today, often linked to notable figures in arts and entertainment.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Leonard"

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Pronunciation

/ˈlɛənərd/

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Origin

Germanic

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Etymology

The name Leonard is derived from the Germanic elements 'leon' meaning 'lion' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'hardy'.

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Meaning

brave lion

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Language Evolution

Leonhard, Leonardus, Leonardo

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Historical Usage

The name Leonard became popular in the Middle Ages, particularly among the Frankish nobility and later spread throughout Europe.

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Variants & Derivatives

Leo, Leon, Len, Lenny

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Modern Popularity & Image

In contemporary times, Leonard is perceived as a classic name, often associated with intelligence and strength. It has remained steadily popular across various cultures.

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Famous People

Leonard Cohen, Leonard Nimoy, Leonard Bernstein

📊 Leonard Name Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Leonard Name Visualizations

✨ Leonard Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 5,675 peak births in 1921

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in North Dakota

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Leonard" - Complete Guide (5 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Leonard". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 5 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Leonard" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Leonard"

Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Yearly Ranking History of "Leonard"

"Leonard" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Boy 41st of 7545 80,269
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 52nd of 6773 74,269
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 89th of 7552 79,079
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 154th of 10718 29,183
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 274th of 16616 14,053
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 595th of 24088 6,375
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 653rd of 23106 4,881
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 1731st of 9107 401
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 1798th of 9204 379
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 2752nd of 12526 329
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 4299th of 19264 218
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 11172nd of 27321 78

Regional Popularity of "Leonard" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
2.12%
30th/1416
3.12%
43rd/1379
2.20%
52nd/2366
3.85%
44th/1142
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
2.85%
44th/1546
2.89%
45th/1556
3.23%
76th/2353
4.07%
63rd/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
4.31%
96th/2227
2.76%
67th/2430
3.58%
102nd/2853
3.46%
96th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
5.62%
165th/2937
3.19%
111th/3483
4.38%
154th/3518
4.33%
175th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
7.87%
290th/3685
4.94%
221st/4475
5.37%
279th/5194
4.97%
314th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
13.51%
619th/4582
9.18%
474th/5164
8.33%
609th/7313
8.15%
608th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
14.38%
573rd/3984
12.19%
547th/4487
11.65%
795th/6822
10.47%
657th/6276

Regional Popularity of "Leonard" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- 79.19%
1092nd/1379
- -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
89.07%
1377th/1546
87.85%
1367th/1556
100.00%
2353rd/2353
-
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
100.00%
2227th/2227
100.00%
2430th/2430
100.00%
2853rd/2853
-
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
- 100.00%
3483rd/3483
- -
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- - - -
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

State-by-State Popularity of "Leonard"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Leonard" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Leonard" in the United States

The name Leonard is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Leonard has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Leonard' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 41st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 52nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 89th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 154th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 274th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 595th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 653rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1731st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1798th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2752nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4299th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11172nd out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Leonard' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Leonard name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Leonard,