Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Leander
BoyGreek· “lion man”
- Meaning
- lion man
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- lee-AN-dur
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,463
- US babies 2025
- 122
- Best rank
- #326 (1882)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Leander
Leander is a Greek name that means “lion man”.
Leander comes from the Greek Leandros, formed from leon, lion, and aner, man, so it is read as lion man. In Greek myth, Leander swam across the Hellespont each night to meet Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, guided by her lamp, until a storm put out the light and he drowned. The story inspired poets including Christopher Marlowe and Lord Byron, who swam the strait himself. Saint Leander of Seville was a bishop in Visigothic Spain. It is said lee-AN-dur. Leo and Lee make easy nicknames, and Leandro is the Spanish and Italian form.
Popularity over time
Leander has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 77 different years. Its best national rank was #326 in 1882, and the most babies received it in 2025, when 122 were named Leander. In 2025, 122 babies were named Leander, and it ranked #1,463 nationally. That is 63% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #671 in 1920, #997 in 1950, #1,281 in 1980, #2,604 in 2000, #2,278 in 2010, and #1,463 in 2025. Of the 6,928 US boys named Leander since records began, 12% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 671 babies. Since 2010, 1,296 more have been named Leander.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Makaio, Hampton, Vedant, Esai, and Abiel.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Leander ranked highest in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #853 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | #973 | 8 |
| New Jersey | #988 | 6 |
| California | #1028 | 21 |
| Michigan | #1206 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Leander is usually pronounced lee-AN-dur, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with L and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Leander
A few middle names that flow with Leander: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Leander
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Lists that include Leander
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leander mean?
Leander is a Greek name that means “lion man”.
What is the origin of the name Leander?
Leander has Greek roots. Leander comes from the Greek Leandros, formed from leon, lion, and aner, man, so it is read as lion man.
Is Leander a popular name?
Not especially. Leander ranked #1,463 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Leander a boy or girl name?
Leander is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Leander?
Leander is usually pronounced lee-AN-dur. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings