Leon derives from Greek leon meaning “lion” and is the Latin cognate of Leo. Leon is also a surname which may derive from the given name, originally a nickname for someone who was a fierce warrior, though it may also derive from the name of a city in Spain, León, which may come from Latin legio meaning “legion” since it was originally a military encampment for the Roman legions.
Origin: Ancient Greek, Latin
Variants:
- Leontios (Ancient Greek)
- Leontius (Latinized Ancient Greek)
- Leonius (Late Roman)
- León (Spanish)
- Leoncio (Spanish)
- Léon (French)
- Léo (French)
- Léonce (French)
- Levon (Armenian)
- Leoš (Czech)
- Leo (German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, English, Croatian, Late Roman)
- Lionel (French, English)
- Levan (Georgian)
- Leone (Italian)
- Leonzio (Italian)
- Leonas (Lithuanian)
- Leonti (Russian)
- Leontiy (Russian)
- Leonty (Russian)
Female form:
- Leona (German, English)
- Leola (English)
- Leone (English)
- Leontina (Italian, Late Roman)
- Leontyne (English)
- Leontine (German, English)
- Léontine (French)
- Léone (French)
- Leonie (German, Dutch, English)
- Léonie (French)
- Leonia (Late Roman)
