Leonard
Say it: LEN-ard/ˈlɛnɚd/
BoyMeans usually explained as "brave as a lion"7 letters2 syllables
#272
in Ireland (2025)
#264 with spellings combined
16
babies in 2025
#108
best rank (1975)
923
babies since 1964
Up 91
10-year rank change
Leonard through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | #264 |
| 2024 | 10 | #360 |
| 2023 | 8 | #426 |
| 2022 | 14 | #297 |
| 2021 | 12 | #328 |
| 2020 | 5 | #528 |
| 2019 | 8 | #421 |
| 2018 | 9 | #384 |
| 2017 | 8 | #418 |
| 2016 | 7 | #448 |
| 2015 | 11 | #355 |
| 2014 | 8 | #428 |
| 2013 | 5 | #535 |
| 2012 | 10 | #379 |
| 2011 | 9 | #407 |
| 2010 | 6 | #491 |
| 2009 | 7 | #429 |
| 2008 | 4 | #601 |
| 2007 | 6 | #435 |
| 2006 | 6 | #385 |
| 2005 | 5 | #403 |
| 2003 | 3 | #500 |
| 2002 | 6 | #313 |
| 2001 | 5 | #317 |
| 1999 | 6 | #266 |
| 1998 | 5 | #280 |
| 1997 | 3 | #382 |
| 1996 | 9 | #234 |
| 1995 | 5 | #281 |
| 1994 | 4 | #299 |
| 1993 | 5 | #275 |
| 1992 | 8 | #222 |
| 1991 | 5 | #263 |
| 1990 | 8 | #216 |
| 1989 | 13 | #177 |
| 1988 | 16 | #166 |
| 1987 | 13 | #181 |
| 1986 | 16 | #165 |
| 1985 | 27 | #136 |
| 1984 | 15 | #166 |
| 1983 | 18 | #160 |
| 1982 | 21 | #155 |
| 1981 | 33 | #127 |
| 1980 | 31 | #135 |
| 1979 | 27 | #135 |
| 1978 | 27 | #134 |
| 1977 | 31 | #127 |
| 1976 | 39 | #119 |
| 1975 | 44 | #108 |
| 1974 | 36 | #118 |
| 1973 | 44 | #113 |
| 1972 | 39 | #115 |
| 1971 | 31 | #123 |
| 1970 | 33 | #111 |
| 1969 | 28 | #115 |
| 1968 | 16 | #143 |
| 1967 | 20 | #126 |
| 1966 | 19 | #125 |
| 1965 | 23 | #115 |
| 1964 | 17 | #125 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Leonard mean?
Usually explained as "brave as a lion"
Germanic, from leo (lion) or liut (people) and hart (hard, strong), through Old French.
Say it right
LENard
The story of Leonard
Leonard is an old Germanic name. The second part is hart, meaning hard or strong. The first part is usually taken as leo, lion, though it may instead be liut, people. So “brave as a lion” is the common explanation, but not the only one. The name reached English through Old French, carried by St Leonard, a Frankish holy man of the sixth century.
It has been used steadily in English since the Middle Ages. As a surname in Ireland, Leonard was also used as an English form of the Irish Ó Leannáin, the same family name that gives us Lennon. Len, Lenny and Leo are the traditional short forms, and Leo has since become a popular name in its own right.
In the CSO records Leonard was at its busiest in the 1970s, with 44 boys in both 1973 and 1975. Its best rank was number 108 in 1975. It then went quiet, but numbers have picked up again recently, with 16 boys in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Leonard (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Leonard
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
LenLennyLeo
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Leonard | 16 | 923 |
In Northern Ireland
#344 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #344 (2025); 13 babies since 2019.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.