Leonardo
Leonardo is a boys' name of Italian origin meaning “brave as a lion.” It ranked #91 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Leonardo?
leh-oh-NAR-doh
where does the name Leonardo come from?
The Italian form of the Germanic Leonhard, joining a lion element with hard, meaning brave or hardy. The lion element may be the Germanic lewo or the Latin leo — the two had already mingled by the time the name was formed.
Perhaps the most iconic Italian name worldwide, Leonardo immediately evokes the supreme genius Leonardo da Vinci — painter, inventor, scientist, and quintessential Renaissance man. The name has surged globally, combining leonine strength with artistic brilliance and intellectual ambition.
the history of Leonardo
Leonardo da Vinci is the name's defining bearer, and the range of his notebooks — anatomy, flight, hydraulics, painting — made his first name a shorthand for polymathic genius. The name is standard across Italy and Latin America, and the actor Leonardo DiCaprio, himself named after da Vinci, renewed it in English-speaking countries.
how popular is this name?
Leonardo has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 97 years since 1885, and fell outside it for 44. It peaked at #75 in 2022, and ranked #91 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #91 |
| 2024 | #84 |
| 2023 | #84 |
| 2022 | #75 |
| 2021 | #87 |
| 2020 | #86 |
| 2019 | #86 |
| 2018 | #93 |
| 2017 | #97 |
| 2016 | #96 |
| 2010 | #150 |
| 2000 | #253 |
| 1990 | #415 |
| 1980 | #449 |
| 1970 | #573 |
| 1960 | #752 |
| 1950 | #836 |
| 1920 | #960 |
| 1910 | #928 |
| 1885 | #936 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Leonardo fell outside the top 1,000.
what are the nicknames and variants of Leonardo?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Leonardo?
- Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance polymath)
- Leonardo DiCaprio (Academy Award-winning actor)
what names are similar to Leonardo?
what names go well with Leonardo?
Sibling names that share Leonardo's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Leonardo
What does the name Leonardo mean?
Leonardo means “brave as a lion”.
What is the origin of the name Leonardo?
Leonardo comes from the Italian naming tradition. Related forms include Leonard, Leonhard and Lennart.
How popular is the name Leonardo?
Leonardo ranked #91 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2022, at #75, and it has spent 97 years in the top 1,000 since 1885.
Is Leonardo a boy or girl name?
Leonardo is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Leonardo?
Leonardo is pronounced leh-oh-NAR-doh, with 4 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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