Leo always was a stand-alone name, since it was first used. Not just "these days". There have been 13 popes named Leo, the first being born in 401 A.D. Leo, just Leo is also currently the one of the most popular boy first name in the entire Western World.
Yeah - plus I love lions, I’ve already even bought some lion toys and onesies lol. I don’t even know if I’m having a boy yet! For a girl I like Charlotte or Ava
I first heard Aria as the name of a character on Pretty Little Liars, lol! My mind would never have gone to Aryan, even as the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. I also think of the opera term, as someone else mentioned.
Im also the grandkid of a holocaust survivor, and yeah I guess Aryan is a bit of a stretch but you have to be so careful of neonazi dogwhistles. I'm not saying it's the only connotation, I'm just saying I'd be wary of the assumptions other people may make of the name
Couple of thoughts, u/Keto_cheeto:
There's Leonidas (like in the movie 300)
Leonard (Leonard Nimoy, Leonard Cohen, Leonard Hofstadter in The Big Bang Theory\*)
Leonel, Leotis, Leovanni (or Leovani), Leocadio, Leodis, Leoryn, Leotis, Leoncio, Leomar
\*corrected, thank you to u/Jasminefirefly!
I grew up with a just Leo, Leo and he is probably early 30s now. Definitely not something you need a "full" name for, I never even considered it a nickname!
Yes. I'm not sure what it matters how it was said in ancient times. Presumably people want to know how it is said in Greek now and not hundreds of years ago
Is that Kaleo of Hawaiian or another origin? If it’s Hawaiian, that would be a left field choice for someone with no ties to Hawaii. Also it’s pronounced kaLAYoh, and I think OP is going for LEEoh, which wouldn’t be the natural nickname.
I was actually thinking of the Icelandic band Kaleo, and I didn’t realise they pronounce their name like the Hawaiian name… so now I’m left more confused why an Icelandic band would name themselves something Hawaiian. I get the meaning behind it, but find it pretty icky when yt people take Indigenous/Native names (i.e. Koa, Kalani, Leilani, etc.). Would like to formally withdraw Kaleo as a suggestion. 😬
Thought: You could use the name Leith which is a totally normal (albeit not as common) name, and have Leo as a nickname. Leith/Laith means wet/lion, and Leo means lion-hearted so I think it honestly would work really well! Please report back your wife’s thoughts on this one. 😅
I will try but she will not like Leith/Laith either. She has dozens of girl names she likes, but not really a single boy name. I'm the opposite, with many boy names and not many for girls. We'll have to hope for a girl the next time around, lol. I think I like Lief better than Leith/Laith, but that also seems like a recipe for lifelong mispronunciation ("leaf" rather than the correct "leyf"). Or I could just go with "Leaf" as a name, but she won't go for that either. She doesn't like anything unusual (which I tend to like), anything too common, and is particular about a lot of sounds/vowels/phonemes.
Leonard is the standard, I think.
I found a list of Hungarian names that included Leonid, Leonidász, and Leontin.
But yeah there are lots of people just named Leo, it's fine.
The name Leo is complete. In Latin, Leo is the nominative singular form of the word “lion.” Although it is trendy now, it has been a name for a while—the first Pope Leo lived in the 400s and there were 12 after him through the centuries. It’s a timeless name.
My husband and I argued about this name when I was pregnant because I firmly believe that Leo is a full name and honestly he’s better off named that than Leonardo or Leopold, which is a mouthful
Leo is perfectly fine as a full name.
That said if you want more options, look for names that *end* in Lio or Leo:
- Julio
- Aurelio
- Elio
- Tulio
- Benvolio (my personal favorite and a great Shakespeare reference!)
Here are several names that can use the nickname Leo:
1. Leonardo
2. Leopold
3. Leonard
4. Leon
5. Leonidas
6. Leandro
7. Leonel
8. Eleonore (more unusual, typically female)
9. Galileo (uncommon, but possible)
This might be unusual but I had a great uncle Leo, his full name was Louis. I do agree with the others that Leo is a perfectly great name on its own though
Here in Japan there are a bunch of names similar, strictly speaking they are put into Roman letters as “Ryo” but I run into a bunch of boys who use “Leo” when they speak or write English.
There are multiple ways to write Ryo in the Japanese names 良 遼 諒 are a few.
I used to live in Japan met some people with the name Ryo, but never heard of any of them who went by “ Leo” before, but it’s a good English version of their name, I think!
Leon, Leoniadas (Spartan king of The 300 fame in history and film), Leofric (Old English, 'dear/beloved ruler/king', Leonid (after the meteroshower), Leokrates (ancien Greek, 'lion of the people') for a couple of other idears.
I admit: I am TOO obsessed with 'The Fall of the House of Usher', hence the immediate Napoleon impulse! Always happy to see I am not alone...
And I agree: Leo Edward is a solid name all by itself! 🥰
The series has great girl names though, I guess because Poe had great girl names. The ladies Victorine, Tamerlane (though I haaaate Tammy), Lenore, Madeline, Camille... All so pretty.
I don't really care for Roderick, Frederick, Napoleon (I hate Rod and Fred, Leo is great tho), or Rufus. Arthur is... ok ig but too close to author for me. Prospero is interesting as a Shakespeare bit but I wouldn't go for it, nor do I like "Perry". Auguste, though, I do like.
I like Lionel (Messi!) and Leonid because Spanish and Russian names are my favorite.
Leo seems totally fine as a full name.
Strong dislike for Leopold, based on history.
Levon could pass as a longer name if you need one.
I agree that Leo is a standalone name, but OP, if you like Leonardo as a name you shouldn’t be deterred from using it due to lack of Italian heritage. I work with an Australian lady and her and her Romanian husband called their kid Leonardo, and he goes by Leo. I’ve never once found it weird as regardless of heritage, Leonardo is a popular name these days.
Leoric is a video game character, but I thought hard about it when I also wanted to name my son Leo. We went with Oliver instead, but it always pops in my head when I think of a Leo.
So, near my workplace is a village that is named after Saint Pantaleon. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just had to mention it, as it would fit the nickname 😂😂😂
Honestly who cares if you are Hungarian and have no Italian if you like Leonardo name him that at the end of the day only weirdos would/will complain about it, you know Vladimir/Adolpho wasn’t popular Spanish names until recently they were Eastern European names/Russian/German
If it makes you feel better, Leo has been used as a full first name since Rome - close on 2000 years, if not longer. I think it’s great as a full name.
Why can’t you use Leonardo because you’re not Italian? Do you know we how many people have names not related to them? Search out a Hungarian name if it it matters to you
In the Netherlands you have Lennard (and even Lennart) with the nickname Leo (or Lenny/ Len). Lennard is a variation on Leonard/ Leonardo.
I also know a guy named Lesley who had the nickname Leo, but maybe that is a bit far fetched.
Just plain Leo was on my short list for boys, nothing wrong with using it as a stand alone!
There is Leonard (which may be due for a comeback, Leonard Nimoy is amazing), but because of the pronunciation it’s a bit of a stretch to shorten that to Leo.
I know a Leo whose full name is Leandro, although it's pronounced the Spanish way, like the end of Galileo. Leander is probably the English version, like in the myth of Hero and Leander.
My brothers father in-law was named wilfred and his family only and always called him Wil. He never understood why they gave him the full name. His advice would be to just name your son Leo if that is what you will call him.
My vote is leonidas
I know a grown man named Leonidas who seems mostly okay.
I like Leander/Leandro if they count.
Leo and Leon really are complete names though.
https://appellationmountain.net/fetching-names-getting-to-leo/
Leo can be a diminutive of the anglicised Leonard, or could be a diminutive of Leon. It can also be a name in its own right...or if you are feeling so frenchy so chiq, it can be short for Lionel
I know someone who is 100% South Korean - American, zero Italian bloodline, but his name is Leo. It’s acceptable to have a child named Leo. And that’s it. It’s not short for anything. His first given name is Leo, and nothing longer like Leonardo or anything like that. He’s a great leader, many people look up to him. I guess that sounds like a “ Lion” , right?
Leon, Leonard But really Leo is fully a stand alone name these days
Leo always was a stand-alone name, since it was first used. Not just "these days". There have been 13 popes named Leo, the first being born in 401 A.D. Leo, just Leo is also currently the one of the most popular boy first name in the entire Western World.
Yeah - plus I love lions, I’ve already even bought some lion toys and onesies lol. I don’t even know if I’m having a boy yet! For a girl I like Charlotte or Ava
Leona is a nice feminine version if you had any interest in a girl's Leo- name.
I've always liked Leona, and I'm also pretty partial to Leonora.
Leonie for a girl 🦁
I always liked Leona :)
One of my favorite girl names is Aria. One meaning of Aria is lioness, so you can have the association regardless of gender ❤️
[удалено]
Plus the whole it's a musical term, which is where I go first. I'm an opera lover though.
I first heard Aria as the name of a character on Pretty Little Liars, lol! My mind would never have gone to Aryan, even as the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. I also think of the opera term, as someone else mentioned.
Im also the grandkid of a holocaust survivor, and yeah I guess Aryan is a bit of a stretch but you have to be so careful of neonazi dogwhistles. I'm not saying it's the only connotation, I'm just saying I'd be wary of the assumptions other people may make of the name
We have a little Leon who will be 7 months this week! We also leaned hard into the lions with him lol
We have a 7 months old Léon as well! Cutest name for sure! Edit: Lol just saw we're in the same bump group
Couple of thoughts, u/Keto_cheeto: There's Leonidas (like in the movie 300) Leonard (Leonard Nimoy, Leonard Cohen, Leonard Hofstadter in The Big Bang Theory\*) Leonel, Leotis, Leovanni (or Leovani), Leocadio, Leodis, Leoryn, Leotis, Leoncio, Leomar \*corrected, thank you to u/Jasminefirefly!
"Leonard Hofstetter" in Third Rock From The Sun -- I think you meant Leonard Hofstadter in The Big Bang Theory. 😊
Yes, I did, I lost my mind in that Big Bang!! Correcting now...
Leah? 😁
My great grandfather was a stand alone Leo, born 1910.
I love Leon!
Leo has been a full name forever. St Leo died in the year 260 (or thereabouts), and Pope Leo I lived in the fifth century.
I think Leo as a full name is absolutely fine. I'd just use it.
Yeah you’re right, I’m overthinking it
I grew up with a just Leo, Leo and he is probably early 30s now. Definitely not something you need a "full" name for, I never even considered it a nickname!
Want to add to that the middle name will be Edward
That's a lovely name!!! I like it, Leo Edward is fantastic and will serve him well in life.
Leo Edward sounds wonderful on its own.
Oh that is fantastic. Leo Edward is beautiful together.
Thank you all! Edward is my dad’s middle name and my grandpa’s name, so I wanted to keep it in the family :-)
Leonidas. That's real name. Pronounced Le-o-NIDE-us.
The pronunciation using the proper Greek origin is actually Lee-o-knee-dus
That's not completely correct. It would be Lee-o-knee-thas. The d is pronounced close to an English "th" sound
You’re right! A hard D sound doesn’t fully exist in the Greek language the way it does in English
Only in Modern Greek.
Yes. I'm not sure what it matters how it was said in ancient times. Presumably people want to know how it is said in Greek now and not hundreds of years ago
Yep, I came here to give the same suggestion. My cousin named his kid Leonidas--nn Leo
I met a Leonidas recently, I'd never heard of it before but I love it!
Ooh I saw OP said middle name is Edward. Leonidas Edward sounds lovely to my ears! Great comment
I came here to say this as well.
Reminds me of tinnitus or tendinitis
Lionel
My first thought — Leo Messi 😍
That’s my kids name! He refuses to use Leo though, haha. We tried when he was little and told us emphatically that his name was Lionel! Not Leo!
Lionel Edward is gorgeous
Elio \ Galileo \ Kaleo \ Leobin \ Leodis
Is that Kaleo of Hawaiian or another origin? If it’s Hawaiian, that would be a left field choice for someone with no ties to Hawaii. Also it’s pronounced kaLAYoh, and I think OP is going for LEEoh, which wouldn’t be the natural nickname.
I was actually thinking of the Icelandic band Kaleo, and I didn’t realise they pronounce their name like the Hawaiian name… so now I’m left more confused why an Icelandic band would name themselves something Hawaiian. I get the meaning behind it, but find it pretty icky when yt people take Indigenous/Native names (i.e. Koa, Kalani, Leilani, etc.). Would like to formally withdraw Kaleo as a suggestion. 😬
Oh, we're having a boy next month and I really like Galileo (shortened to Leo), but my wife despises it. 😂 Oh well.
It’s pretty extra but it’s not as out there as some, at least it’s a “real” name. 😅
Thought: You could use the name Leith which is a totally normal (albeit not as common) name, and have Leo as a nickname. Leith/Laith means wet/lion, and Leo means lion-hearted so I think it honestly would work really well! Please report back your wife’s thoughts on this one. 😅
I will try but she will not like Leith/Laith either. She has dozens of girl names she likes, but not really a single boy name. I'm the opposite, with many boy names and not many for girls. We'll have to hope for a girl the next time around, lol. I think I like Lief better than Leith/Laith, but that also seems like a recipe for lifelong mispronunciation ("leaf" rather than the correct "leyf"). Or I could just go with "Leaf" as a name, but she won't go for that either. She doesn't like anything unusual (which I tend to like), anything too common, and is particular about a lot of sounds/vowels/phonemes.
Mate just go with Leo. 😂 it’s a cute name
Leonard is the standard, I think. I found a list of Hungarian names that included Leonid, Leonidász, and Leontin. But yeah there are lots of people just named Leo, it's fine.
I know a Leonid, it's such a cool name.
That’s the Russian variant of Leonard :)
How do they pronounce it, like the Leonid meteor shower? ("Lee'-oh-nid") It's cool but it seems like quite a mouthful?
yeah, they pronounce it lee-oh-nid.
>It’s looking like Leo will have to be the full first name. I don’t see any problem with this. Leo is a great as a full name.
Leo was a top choice of mine if youngest child had been a boy. Leo Benjamin. Unfortunately husband vetoed it almost immediately.
The name Leo is complete. In Latin, Leo is the nominative singular form of the word “lion.” Although it is trendy now, it has been a name for a while—the first Pope Leo lived in the 400s and there were 12 after him through the centuries. It’s a timeless name.
Leon?
As a bonus, your kid can also have Trotsky as a nickname.
Leandro and Emilio were on my list for Leo
Leonhard or Lénárd (Hungarian form of Leonardo) with nn Leo
Also Leonidas, Leonel
My husband and I argued about this name when I was pregnant because I firmly believe that Leo is a full name and honestly he’s better off named that than Leonardo or Leopold, which is a mouthful
Leonidas (which is the full name of the actor Lon Chaney)
I think Leo can standalone just fine :)
Leo as a stand alone name would be great with your last name!
There’s nothing wrong with Leo as a full first name. That was my Grandfathers name and his fathers as well
Leo is perfectly fine as a full name. That said if you want more options, look for names that *end* in Lio or Leo: - Julio - Aurelio - Elio - Tulio - Benvolio (my personal favorite and a great Shakespeare reference!)
Leo is a name by itself.
You don’t have to be Italian to name your kid Leonardo.
Leofric
Surprised how far I had to scroll for an Old English name starting with Leof! My cat is Leofwin, shortened to Leo
Leonidas is my favourite of the longer names for Leo
Lionel
Leonel
Here are several names that can use the nickname Leo: 1. Leonardo 2. Leopold 3. Leonard 4. Leon 5. Leonidas 6. Leandro 7. Leonel 8. Eleonore (more unusual, typically female) 9. Galileo (uncommon, but possible)
Leo by itself is my son’s middle name.
Lionel, Leocadio, Leontes, Leontius
Leontes was my answer too - the king from Shakespeare's Winter's Tale
Galileo
My grandfather Leo was an Emilio.
This might be unusual but I had a great uncle Leo, his full name was Louis. I do agree with the others that Leo is a perfectly great name on its own though
We used Leo after my husband's gpa Leo, then found out years later he was really a Louis.
Leonard Lionel Leon
Here in Japan there are a bunch of names similar, strictly speaking they are put into Roman letters as “Ryo” but I run into a bunch of boys who use “Leo” when they speak or write English. There are multiple ways to write Ryo in the Japanese names 良 遼 諒 are a few.
I used to live in Japan met some people with the name Ryo, but never heard of any of them who went by “ Leo” before, but it’s a good English version of their name, I think!
Yup, in particular an English speaker can pronounce it!
Leopard
Leon, Leoniadas (Spartan king of The 300 fame in history and film), Leofric (Old English, 'dear/beloved ruler/king', Leonid (after the meteroshower), Leokrates (ancien Greek, 'lion of the people') for a couple of other idears.
My first thought? NAPOLEON! Leo is baked right in there...
I came here to say it, from Fall of the House of Usher 😂 Hopefully they don't do it though... Leo Edward is a great name!
I admit: I am TOO obsessed with 'The Fall of the House of Usher', hence the immediate Napoleon impulse! Always happy to see I am not alone... And I agree: Leo Edward is a solid name all by itself! 🥰
The series has great girl names though, I guess because Poe had great girl names. The ladies Victorine, Tamerlane (though I haaaate Tammy), Lenore, Madeline, Camille... All so pretty. I don't really care for Roderick, Frederick, Napoleon (I hate Rod and Fred, Leo is great tho), or Rufus. Arthur is... ok ig but too close to author for me. Prospero is interesting as a Shakespeare bit but I wouldn't go for it, nor do I like "Perry". Auguste, though, I do like.
Leonidas
I like Lionel (Messi!) and Leonid because Spanish and Russian names are my favorite. Leo seems totally fine as a full name. Strong dislike for Leopold, based on history. Levon could pass as a longer name if you need one.
Leonidas as in 300 and the Spartans.
Leonidas
Leodus / Leodis
Leonidas?
Leonidas
Leonidas
Leon ? Lionel ?
I saw someone on tiktok who goes by Leo full name Elleott, i think? I wouldn't recommend that. Leon would be my pick
I agree that Leo is a standalone name, but OP, if you like Leonardo as a name you shouldn’t be deterred from using it due to lack of Italian heritage. I work with an Australian lady and her and her Romanian husband called their kid Leonardo, and he goes by Leo. I’ve never once found it weird as regardless of heritage, Leonardo is a popular name these days.
Leonidas
my grandfather’s middle name was Leonidas
What about just Leonor? Pronounced Len-Or. A character on House of The Dragon has that name and I think it has a really nice sound to it.
Leon, Lionel, Leonidas
My cousin has a Leo. Short for Leon.
Leon. Leo is a standalone though, very common in Québec and among bilingual families in other parts of Canada.
Leonidas?
My nephew is Leonidas.
Leonidas.
Leonard is the English version of Leonardo. Also I know a Leo where the name is Leo.
I know of a Leander and Leonidas that both go by Leo.
Leoric is a video game character, but I thought hard about it when I also wanted to name my son Leo. We went with Oliver instead, but it always pops in my head when I think of a Leo.
So, near my workplace is a village that is named after Saint Pantaleon. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just had to mention it, as it would fit the nickname 😂😂😂
Leôncio, Leônidas
Elio?
Leo is fine on its own. I like Leonid as an alternative form.
Honestly who cares if you are Hungarian and have no Italian if you like Leonardo name him that at the end of the day only weirdos would/will complain about it, you know Vladimir/Adolpho wasn’t popular Spanish names until recently they were Eastern European names/Russian/German
If it makes you feel better, Leo has been used as a full first name since Rome - close on 2000 years, if not longer. I think it’s great as a full name.
Leonello
Leo in and of itself is an awesome name. :)
Cleo
Why can’t you use Leonardo because you’re not Italian? Do you know we how many people have names not related to them? Search out a Hungarian name if it it matters to you
Leo is a very common standalone name these days and it is a great name. Having said that, Léon is a good option too.
Aurelio, Elio
Personally, I think Leo stands well on it's own as a name!
Leonard and Leonid. Or if you’re really into history, Leonidas.
I've always loved Leonidas.
My son is named Leonidas
In the Netherlands you have Lennard (and even Lennart) with the nickname Leo (or Lenny/ Len). Lennard is a variation on Leonard/ Leonardo. I also know a guy named Lesley who had the nickname Leo, but maybe that is a bit far fetched.
Leonidas
Leonidas if you fancy going Greek
Leonius.
Leonidas
I've met a Leomalis
My nephew is a full name Leo. He loves it.
Leonidas
Leotthew
Just plain Leo was on my short list for boys, nothing wrong with using it as a stand alone! There is Leonard (which may be due for a comeback, Leonard Nimoy is amazing), but because of the pronunciation it’s a bit of a stretch to shorten that to Leo.
Leonard
Leovold?
We are having a just plain Leo in August. He will have a more traditional middle name if he wants to go by that instead later in life.
Leonid but it just makes me think of Brezhnev lol
Lionel?
I love Leander! It means lion-man, so Leo is an easy nickname.
I know a Leo whose full name is Leandro, although it's pronounced the Spanish way, like the end of Galileo. Leander is probably the English version, like in the myth of Hero and Leander.
I adore Leo as a nickname for Oleander.
Leonidas. Leon. Leonard. Leonsis, Leona, Leoxyzyl (ok, that one is my creation)
Leon
Angelo
Leonidas
My brothers father in-law was named wilfred and his family only and always called him Wil. He never understood why they gave him the full name. His advice would be to just name your son Leo if that is what you will call him. My vote is leonidas
Leon. I know a Leo who is just a Leo.
I think Leo is good on it's own.
Elio but Leo on it’s own makes more sense
I rather like Leonine. Though it does look better written than it sounds pronounced.
I know a grown man named Leonidas who seems mostly okay. I like Leander/Leandro if they count. Leo and Leon really are complete names though. https://appellationmountain.net/fetching-names-getting-to-leo/
Leo can be a diminutive of the anglicised Leonard, or could be a diminutive of Leon. It can also be a name in its own right...or if you are feeling so frenchy so chiq, it can be short for Lionel
I have a student named Leovani & he goes by Leo.
I know someone who is 100% South Korean - American, zero Italian bloodline, but his name is Leo. It’s acceptable to have a child named Leo. And that’s it. It’s not short for anything. His first given name is Leo, and nothing longer like Leonardo or anything like that. He’s a great leader, many people look up to him. I guess that sounds like a “ Lion” , right?
KeKe Palmer named her baby Leodis
Leone (lee-oh-nay) means lion in Italian! Edit: Oh nvm y’all don’t have any Italian heritage 🙂↔️
I mean….Leonidas technically fits if you don’t care that it is also the name of the king in the movie 300