Leon
Boy name · #138 in 2025 · Uniqueness 34/100
Leon is currently the #138 boy name in the United States — 2,583 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #314, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 697 boys born in 2025 was named Leon.
Babies named Leon per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Leon first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 118 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 2,677 boys were named Leon — good for #76 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Leon against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Leon in class?
Leon scores 34 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Leon is most common
Geography matters for names, and Leon is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Leons were CA (416), TX (267), NY (188), FL (156), OH (99). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Leon
Statistically, parents drawn to Leon tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Calvin, Warren, Charlie, Louis, and Harvey.
CalvinWarrenCharlieLouisHarveyArthurLewisGeorge
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Leon | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,583 | #138 |
| 2024 | 2,572 | #141 |
| 2023 | 2,459 | #148 |
| 2022 | 2,374 | #158 |
| 2021 | 2,198 | #177 |
| 2020 | 1,924 | #196 |
| 2019 | 1,866 | #208 |
| 2018 | 1,605 | #238 |
| 2017 | 1,518 | #244 |
| 2016 | 1,313 | #277 |
| 2015 | 1,140 | #314 |
| 2014 | 1,081 | #321 |
| 2013 | 1,021 | #324 |
| 2012 | 859 | #356 |
| 2011 | 696 | #406 |
| 2010 | 669 | #417 |
| 2009 | 628 | #445 |
| 2008 | 549 | #499 |
| 2007 | 543 | #488 |
| 2006 | 517 | #502 |
| 2005 | 470 | #524 |
| 2004 | 462 | #520 |
| 2003 | 495 | #497 |
| 2002 | 472 | #487 |
| 2001 | 469 | #490 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leon a popular boy name?
Leon ranked #138 among boys in 2025 with 2,583 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #314.
When was the name Leon most popular?
Leon peaked in 1924, when 2,677 American boys received the name (ranked #76 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Leon?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 697 newborn American boys was named Leon. It scores 34/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.