Names Inspired by Leo

Leo began in the early Christian world as the name of several popes, including St. Leo the Great, and several rulers. It became more popular among English-speakers by the nineteenth century, ranking among the American top 100 into the 1930s. Since hitting its low point in the 400s during the 1990s, Leo has made a strong comeback. It returned to the top 100 in 2014 and is more popular than ever before. 

There are many reasons behind Leo's success. Alongside being timeless and old-fashioned at once, it is a religious name via the several popes and saints that bore it. Leo also mixes sweetness and strength thanks to its connection to lions and a Zodiac sign. It can be a nickname, but it feels complete as a standalone.

With Leo being near the top of the charts, plenty of parents would want something less common. Or else, they could be naming Leo's brother. 

Whether you fit the above description or are an avid name lover, here are some less-popular alternatives:

Abel

This name may be tragic via the Biblical character's murder, but its sweetness and timelessness outweigh it. 

Aldo

This short and sweet name has some usage history in the United States and has belonged to an early saint.

Benno

Benno has never been widely used among Americans, but its sweet sound and meaning of "bear" still make it a worthy substitute. Besides, it has been worn by a few saints. 

Boaz

The "bo" sound in Biblical Boaz gives this strong name a touch of sweetness. 

Bruno

An exotic name with no ties to any era, Bruno has been worn by several saints. 

Casper

The name of both an obscure saint and friendly ghost, Casper has a sweet sound and a long history of use.

Conrad

On the surface, this name is nothing like Leo. Yet, its perennial top 1000 status and several saintly namesakes prove otherwise. 

Emil

Vintage Emil, a masculine form of classic Emily, has Leo's mix of sweetness and strength. 

Giles

This saints' name has never been too common in its heyday, giving it the strength to stand the test of time.

Harry

Traditionally a nickname for Henry, this old-fashioned classic also feels complete as a standalone. 

Hugo

A short timeless name that connects to the writer of classic novels Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Hugo is nearly as sweet at Leo. 

Ira

Biblical and vintage, Ira has Leo's three-letter, two-syllable pattern and mix of friendliness and strength. 

Ivo

This German name has three letters and a sound similar but different to that of Leo. While it was never common among English-speakers, it feels slightly old-fashioned and has been worn by a few saints. 

Lionel

Lionel is a timeless classic that has the word "lion" in it. 

Linus

Sweet Linus, which connects to the blanket-loving child from the Peanuts franchise, has also been worn by a saint. 

Lyle

Lyle is another short vintage name with a strong vowel sound. 

Otis

Vintage Otis sounds playful and strong at once along with having Leo's "o" sound. 

Percy

Percy is a sweet vintage charmer with a strong sound, especially considering the Percy Jackson books. 

Philo

This sweet-sounding name may be obscure, but it has been worn by an early saint. It also slightly connects to classic Philipp. 

Reid

Timeless Reid sounds sweet but strong and connects to the color "red."

Remy

Remy sounds modern, but it is a saints' name. Its sweetness may learn feminine, but it's still there. 

Rex

Rex is another timeless sweet mini-name that will conjure images of dinosaurs. 

Roscoe

Vintage Roscoe mixes soft and hard sounds to send an outspoken vibe that nearly matches Leo's strength.

Rufus

This vintage charmer has a myriad of saintly associations, one of whom is even mentioned in the Bible. 

What names would you add?

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