Leo — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Leo is a boys' name of Latin origin, meaning "lion". Thirteen popes and DiCaprio — the lion roars in five letters.

Style & feel. With classic and short on its style card, Leo sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape — familiar enough that nobody misreads it, distinctive enough that your child won't share it with three classmates. At 1 syllable, it flows across most middle-name combinations and survives every life stage from playground to résumé.

Pairing ideas. Leo pairs naturally with one- and two-syllable middles (Milo, Theodore share its sound-world). If you like Leo, you'll probably also love Milo, Theodore, Arlo — same era, same energy, same bone structure.