
The short answer
Leonard is a masculine name used in English and Dutch. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Means ‘brave lion’, derived from the Old German elements lewo ‘lion’ (of Latin origin) and hart ‘hard, firm, brave, hardy’. This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint from Noblac who is the patron of prisoners and horses." It ranked #637 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, means ‘brave lion’, derived from the Old German elements lewo ‘lion’ (of Latin origin) and hart ‘hard, firm, brave, hardy’. This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint from Noblac who is the patron of prisoners and horses. The entry lists its usage as English, Dutch, German, Polish and others.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Leonard ranked #637 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #637 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Leonard in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leonard mean?
Leonard means "brave lion", according to Behind the Name.
Is Leonard a popular name?
Leonard ranked #637 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Leonard a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Leonard appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Leonard — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.