Leon

Last seen for girls in 2022 at #12,243 · #138 for boys in 2025, 2,583 births
Given to boys 99.2% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1926 · 2,647 births
Debut · boys
118 births
In top 100 · boys
57 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
182,638
since 1880

Leon over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201972peak #73, 1926boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#1382,583
2024—#1412,572
2023—#1482,459
2022#12,2437#1582,374
2021—#1772,198
2020#13,4536#1961,924
2019—#2081,866
2018—#2381,605
2017—#2441,518
2016—#2771,313
2015—#3141,140
2014—#3211,081
2013—#3241,021
2012—#356859
2011—#406696
2010—#417669
2009—#445628
2008—#499549
2007—#488543
2006—#502517
2005—#524470
2004—#520462
2003—#497495
2002—#487472
2001—#490469
2000—#499457
1999—#480463
1998—#476460
1997—#489436
1996—#458473
1995—#452503
1994—#421544
1993—#425531
1992#13,3175#388591
1991#13,1475#391581
1990—#390594
1989—#351647
1988—#320675
1987#8,7787#318662
1986#7,1349#299688
1985#8,3187#283727
1984#8,1537#262797
1983#6,21210#263784
1982#9,2376#252874
1981#5,25413#252869
1980#4,97814#248904
1979#4,62615#242907
1978#5,21412#228924
1977#5,21312#228948
1976#3,96316#221924
1975#5,51610#233884
1974#6,9007#218973
1973#8,4235#2171,008
1972#3,71416#2181,024
1971#4,53412#2271,040
1970#5,06110#2071,222
1969#5,4568#2131,151
1968#5,1478#1961,197
1967#4,6259#1951,198
1966#3,55813#1871,308
1965#4,4949#1991,263
1964#3,24416#1901,482
1963#3,33615#2011,477
1962#3,29315#1961,542
1961#3,06017#1941,558
1960#2,82019#1891,647
1959#4,03110#1761,748
1958#3,92510#1631,932
1957#2,82317#1661,888
1956#3,32113#1532,043
1955#2,72517#1432,141
1954#3,32512#1402,146
1953#3,26912#1372,273
1952#4,1238#1242,377
1951#2,81014#1222,366
1950#2,78114#1192,427
1949#3,17611#1212,425
1948#2,82813#1192,384
1947#2,35418#1172,487
1946#3,9947#1132,339
1945#2,74211#1112,098
1944#3,6877#1082,151
1943#2,86111#1032,451
1942#2,81711#932,550
1941#2,27214#932,375
1940#2,29713#892,318
1939#2,30013#862,327
1938#2,22514#852,355
1937#1,63022#852,325
1936#2,8579#822,282
1935#2,30513#862,282
1934#1,77119#872,306
1933#1,97016#852,187
1932#1,42128#832,295
1931#1,42127#842,245
1930#1,66123#812,401
1929#1,76621#812,336
1928#1,58926#812,460
1927#1,30337#782,602
1926#1,51429#732,647
1925#1,60927#762,636
1924#1,32837#762,677
1923#1,28337#772,528
1922#1,46431#772,521
1921#1,62527#742,616
1920#1,17142#752,554
1919#1,32534#802,250
1918#1,41130#772,442
1917#1,37729#822,102
1916#1,40827#851,954
1915#1,25831#821,977
1914#1,60317#851,414
1913#1,46516#811,160
1912#1,84410#791,006
1911#1,17115#77540
1910#1,06917#81435
1909#1,36910#80377
1908#1,04415#84327
1907#1,3849#80324
1906#1,10112#87263
1905#1,2989#87274
1904#1,4867#90241
1903—#76287
1902#1,07511#86248
1901—#87208
1900#1,23110#85310
1899—#93188
1898#1,1719#83251
1897#1,1678#81229
1896#1,4166#86235
1895—#87219
1894#1,4855#84236
1893#1,4375#88211
1892#1,1717#100187
1891#1,2136#104150
1890—#86197
1889—#94184
1888—#90196
1887—#99147
1886—#109142
1885—#99146
1884—#102150
1883—#97140
1882—#114131
1881—#104121
1880—#114118
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Leon was already there! It came in at #114, and was given to 118 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1887, when fewer than 160 boys a year got the name.

Where Leon is popular in 1972

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedAKMaine: #146 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,040 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #133 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,026 boysNHWashington: #193 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,362 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #136 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 771 boysNDMinnesota: #199 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,060 boysMNIllinois: #176 for boys · 72 births · 1 in 1,149 boysILWisconsin: #226 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,338 boysWIMichigan: #169 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 1,188 boysMINew York: #230 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 1,741 boysNYMassachusetts: #228 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,897 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedRIOregon: #232 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,815 boysORNevada: #112 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 567 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #123 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 635 boysSDIowa: #263 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,193 boysIAIndiana: #219 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,983 boysINOhio: #225 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 2,141 boysOHPennsylvania: #185 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 1,759 boysPANew Jersey: #194 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 1,434 boysNJConnecticut: #157 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,189 boysCTCalifornia: #256 for boys · 82 births · 1 in 1,831 boysCAUtah: #195 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,516 boysUTColorado: #265 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,012 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedNEMissouri: #192 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,301 boysMOKentucky: #345 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 4,423 boysKYWest Virginia: #255 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,765 boysWVVirginia: #199 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,390 boysVAMaryland: #171 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,123 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedDEArizona: #222 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,303 boysAZNew Mexico: #138 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 589 boysNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Leon, so not publishedKSArkansas: #156 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 880 boysARTennessee: #244 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 2,008 boysTNNorth Carolina: #200 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 1,300 boysNCSouth Carolina: #126 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 640 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #158 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 850 boysDCOklahoma: #198 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,350 boysOKLouisiana: #188 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 892 boysLAMississippi: #193 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,107 boysMSAlabama: #152 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 837 boysALGeorgia: #214 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,351 boysGAHawaii: #237 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,209 boysHITexas: #304 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 2,046 boysTXFlorida: #199 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 1,174 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Nevada#112 · 1 in 567
  2. South Dakota#123 · 1 in 635
  3. South Carolina#126 · 1 in 640
  4. New Hampshire#133 · 1 in 1,026
  5. North Dakota#136 · 1 in 771

Best ever in a state: #27 in District of Columbia, 1928.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Nevada#11261 in 567
South Dakota#12371 in 635
South Carolina#126341 in 640
New Hampshire#13351 in 1,026
North Dakota#13661 in 771
New Mexico#138151 in 589
Maine#14671 in 1,040
Alabama#152331 in 837
Arkansas#156171 in 880
Connecticut#157151 in 1,189
District of Columbia#158111 in 850
Michigan#169581 in 1,188
Maryland#171211 in 1,123
Illinois#176721 in 1,149
Pennsylvania#185451 in 1,759
Louisiana#188351 in 892
Missouri#192271 in 1,301
Mississippi#193181 in 1,107
Washington#193161 in 1,362
New Jersey#194321 in 1,434
Utah#19581 in 1,516
Oklahoma#198141 in 1,350
Florida#199431 in 1,174
Minnesota#199131 in 2,060
Virginia#199241 in 1,390
North Carolina#200321 in 1,300
Georgia#214301 in 1,351
Indiana#219211 in 1,983
Arizona#222131 in 1,303
Ohio#225381 in 2,141
Wisconsin#226131 in 2,338
Massachusetts#228131 in 2,897
New York#230701 in 1,741
Oregon#23281 in 1,815
Hawaii#23751 in 1,209
Tennessee#244161 in 2,008
West Virginia#25551 in 2,765
California#256821 in 1,831
Iowa#26361 in 3,193
Colorado#26591 in 2,012
Texas#304521 in 2,046
Kentucky#34561 in 4,423
Alaska———
Delaware———
Idaho———
Kansas———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Leon
Momentum · boys
Rising
  • 3 spots since 2024 (#141 → #138)
  • 58 spots since 2020 (#196 → #138)
  • 176 spots since 2015 (#314 → #138)
  • Biggest jump: 54 spots in 2009 (#499 → #445)
  • Biggest drop: 39 spots in 1990 (#351 → #390)
Rise & fade · boys
46 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1926 at #73 (2,647 births)
  • Births halved by 1965, 39 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 57 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 57 yrs · run 1892–1942
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 415
  • Highest: 1 in 415 boys born in 1918 were named Leon (0.24%)
  • Latest: 1 in 661 boys born in 2025 (0.15%)
  • Its best rank, #73 in 1926, was only 1 in 420 (0.24%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 14.0% of all boys named Leon (25,577) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,475#90 (1888)#102
1890s2,103#81 (1897)#89
1900s2,859#76 (1903)#84
1910s15,280#77 (1918)#81
1920s25,577#73 (1926)#77
1930s23,005#81 (1930)#84
1940s23,578#89 (1940)#107
1950s21,341#119 (1950)#144
1960s13,823#187 (1966)#196
1970s9,854#207 (1970)#224
1980s7,627#248 (1980)#285
1990s5,176#388 (1992)#437
2000s5,062#445 (2009)#495
2010s11,768#208 (2019)#311
2020s14,110#138 (2025)#160

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Leon in 1972

girls
#3,714
16 births · 1 in 95,078 girls
boys
#218
1,024 births · 1 in 1,584 boys

Top girls' names in 1972

  1. #1Jennifer63,600
  2. #2Michelle29,285
  3. #3Lisa27,543
  4. #4Kimberly26,282
  5. #5Amy25,873
  6. #6Angela23,561
  7. #7Melissa22,494
  8. #8Stephanie16,890
  9. #9Heather16,320
  10. #10Nicole15,755
  11. #3,714Leon16

Top boys' names in 1972

  1. #1Michael71,393
  2. #2Christopher52,172
  3. #3James47,063
  4. #4David46,322
  5. #5John43,158
  6. #6Robert43,013
  7. #7Jason37,423
  8. #8Brian36,306
  9. #9William30,510
  10. #10Matthew22,928
  11. #218Leon1,024
More about 1972

girls

1,521,244 girls got a published name in 1972; 1 in 95,078 of them was named Leon, which outranked 61.6% of the 9,666 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Leon
  1. #3,543Vesta17
  2. #3,543Virna17
  3. #3,543Zelma17
  4. #3,714Leon16
  5. #3,714Adella16
  6. #3,714Adelle16
  7. #3,714Adrena16
  8. #3,894Afrika15
  9. #3,894Aimie15
  10. #3,894Akiko15

Tied with 179 names at #3,714; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1971
Risers
  1. ↑ 5,804Camisha#6,619 → #815
  2. ↑ 3,921Catina#4,123 → #202
  3. ↑ 1,842Cherilyn#2,665 → #823
  4. ↑ 1,789Chasity#2,542 → #753
  5. ↑ 1,694Keena#2,542 → #848
Fallers
  1. ↓ 517Shayla#836 → #1,353
  2. ↓ 428Raina#798 → #1,226
  3. ↓ 280Kendall#742 → #1,022
  4. ↓ 275Alycia#951 → #1,226
  5. ↓ 255Charisse#727 → #982

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,621,608 boys got a published name in 1972; 1 in 1,584 of them was named Leon, which outranked 96.2% of the 5,751 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 26.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Leon
  1. #215Fred1,039
  2. #216Dana1,030
  3. #217Marlon1,028
  4. #218Leon1,024
  5. #219Jaime1,010
  6. #220Ramon1,003
  7. #221Zachary1,001
Biggest movers since 1971
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,755Demond#3,146 → #391
  2. ↑ 1,286Cade#2,279 → #993
  3. ↑ 905Vidal#1,526 → #621
  4. ↑ 855Damond#1,784 → #929
  5. ↑ 849Kareem#1,254 → #405
Fallers
  1. ↓ 413Rich#914 → #1,327
  2. ↓ 401Monroe#947 → #1,348
  3. ↓ 317Laura#990 → #1,307
  4. ↓ 309Von#976 → #1,285
  5. ↓ 309Westley#998 → #1,307

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1972 →