Leonidas
Boy name · #510 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Leonidas? In official American birth records, Leonidas has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 591 baby boys were named Leonidas, placing it at #510 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #518, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,046 boys born in 2025 was named Leonidas.
The 145-year story
Leonidas first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2022, with 760 babies and a rank of #421. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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.
Babies named Leonidas per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Leonidas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Leonidas in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Leonidas is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Leonidas is most common
Geography matters for names, and Leonidas is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Leonidas is most common in CO (0.8 per 1,000), UT (0.7 per 1,000), WA (0.6 per 1,000), MO (0.6 per 1,000), IL (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Leonidas is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Leonidas
Statistically, parents drawn to Leonidas tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Matthias, Jeremias, Cassius, Sylas, and Mathias.
MatthiasJeremiasCassiusSylasMathiasAugustusLachlanLochlan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Leonidas | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 591 | #510 |
| 2024 | 597 | #510 |
| 2023 | 638 | #476 |
| 2022 | 760 | #421 |
| 2021 | 688 | #446 |
| 2020 | 649 | #457 |
| 2019 | 608 | #482 |
| 2018 | 569 | #504 |
| 2017 | 582 | #498 |
| 2016 | 593 | #505 |
| 2015 | 556 | #518 |
| 2014 | 494 | #559 |
| 2013 | 337 | #704 |
| 2012 | 288 | #786 |
| 2011 | 234 | #886 |
| 2010 | 218 | #925 |
| 2009 | 201 | #985 |
| 2008 | 241 | #877 |
| 2007 | 152 | #1162 |
| 2006 | 19 | #4675 |
| 2005 | 27 | #3528 |
| 2004 | 22 | #4005 |
| 2003 | 28 | #3280 |
| 2002 | 13 | #5395 |
| 2001 | 14 | #5142 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Leonidas?
In official American birth records, the name Leonidas first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Leonidas a popular boy name?
Leonidas ranked #510 among boys in 2025 with 591 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #518.
When was the name Leonidas most popular?
Leonidas peaked in 2022, when 760 American boys received the name (ranked #421 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Leonidas?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,046 newborn American boys was named Leonidas. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.