Leonard

At a Glance: Name: Leonard – Meaning: brave/strong lion (or, by an alternate reading, 'hardy people') – Origin: Germanic (Old High German) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: LEN-urd

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Leonard is a boy's name with deep vintage, classic roots, traced to Germanic (Old High German) origins. It's built from elements meaning 'brave' or 'strong' and 'lion' — though some read it instead as 'hardy people.' It's pronounced LEN-urd (/ˈlɛnərd/), a straightforward, sturdy sound to match its meaning.

Meaning & Origin of Leonard

Meaning: Brave/strong lion (or, by an alternate reading, 'hardy people').

Origin: Germanic (Old High German).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Leonard

Phonetic: LEN-urd   IPA: /ˈlɛnərd/

Popularity of Leonard

Leonard hit its high point in 1923, when it ranked #37 and 5,486 baby boys were given the name. By 2024 it had fallen to #673 with just 404 boys named Leonard, based on Social Security data spanning 1880 to 2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Leonard Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Leonard, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Jerry
• Roger
• Frank
• Hubert
• Lance
• Norbert

FAQ

What does the name Leonard mean?

Brave/strong lion (or, by an alternate reading, ‘hardy people’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Leonard)

How do you pronounce Leonard?

Leonard is pronounced LEN-urd (IPA: /ˈlɛnərd/).

Is Leonard a popular name right now?

Leonard peaked at #37 in 1923 and is ranked #673 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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