Leonardo

For many more names, please Return to Edgar's Main Page.

Leonardo

Gender: Masculine
Language: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Etymology:
Leonardo is the Italian and Spanish and Portuguese form of the Germanic name Leonhard. It originally meant “Lion-Strong” from “leon” (lion), and “hard” (strong).

History:
Although Leonhard was the name of a popular 5th century saint, the name Leonardo was not really all that common, being most common in Italy. The name was made famous throughout Europe by the Italian scholar Leonardo da Vinci, but the name Leonardo only remained common in Italy.

Leonardo was introduced to the United States by the Spanish-speaking settlers of the Southwest., although it was rare. The name was reinforced in the early 20th century, by an influx of Italian immigrants. Many of those early Leonardos, however, probably Anglicized their name to Leonard.

Leonardo was lately become much more common. Especially after the 1997 release of the immensely popular movie Titanic starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Please see Leonard for more information.

Pronunciation: lee-oh-nard-oh.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Leonardo Dati (1408-1472)
Italian poet.
Leonardo de Figueroa (1650-1730)
Spanish architect.
Leonardo Sinisgalli (1908-1981)
Italian poet.
Leonardo Sciascia (1921-1989)
Italian novelist.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Italian painter, architect, and engineer.
Leonardo Boff (1938-)
Brazilian theologian.

Political Figures:
Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444)
Italian politician.

Scientists and Inventors:
Leonardo Fibonacci (Leonardo Pisano) (1170-1250)
Italian mathematician.

Singers and Entertainers:
Leonardo DiCaprio (1974-)
American actor.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.015 % named Leonardo

Popularity of Leonardo:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1904: N/A
1905: 918th most popular.
1906-1908: N/A
1909: 842nd most popular.
1910: 928th most popular.
1911: 922nd most popular.
1912-1919: N/A
1920: 958th most popular.
1921-1923: N/A
1924: 993rd most popular.
1925: N/A
1926: 885th most popular.
1927: 828th most popular.
1928: 965th most popular.
1929: 870th most popular.
1930-1932: N/A
1933: 946th most popular.
1934: 888th most popular.
1935: 805th most popular.
1936-1940: N/A
1941: 989th most popular.
1942: N/A
1943: 963rd most popular.
1944: 829th most popular.
1945: 784th most popular.
1946: 804th most popular.
1947: N/A
1948: 946th most popular.
1949: 846th most popular.
1950: 842nd most popular.
1951: 865th most popular.
1952: 775th most popular.
1953: 799th most popular.
1954: 735th most popular.
1955: 801st most popular.
1956: 800th most popular.
1957: 790th most popular.
1958: 724th most popular.
1959: 693rd most popular.
1960: 749th most popular.
1961: 640th most popular.
1962: 660th most popular.
1963: 665th most popular.
1964: 679th most popular.
1965: 665th most popular.
1966: 591st most popular.
1967: 609th most popular.
1968: 635th most popular.
1969: 627th most popular.
1970: 576th most popular.
1971: 547th most popular.
1972: 505th most popular.
1973: 528th most popular.
1974: 488th most popular.
1975: 480th most popular.
1976: 504th most popular.
1977: 518th most popular.
1978: 528th most popular.
1979: 500th most popular.
1980: 451st most popular.
1981: 490th most popular.
1982: 484th most popular.
1983: 514th most popular.
1984: 486th most popular.
1985: 502nd most popular.
1986: 495th most popular.
1987: 499th most popular.
1988: 490th most popular.
1989: 478th most popular.
1990: 356th most popular.
1991: 327th most popular.
1992: 335th most popular.
1993: 335th most popular.
1994: 347th most popular.
1995: 369th most popular.
1996: 378th most popular.
1997: 340th most popular. - the movie Titanic is released, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
1998: 255th most popular.
1999: 252nd most popular.
2000: 249th most popular.
2001: 232nd most popular.
2002: 229th most popular.
2003: 212th most popular.
2004: 195th most popular.

Selected Sources:
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Academy of St. Gabriel (www.s-gabriel.org) - For information on medieval names.

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)