Leo

Leo is a strong-yet-friendly name that was common among the Romans, used for thirteen popes, and is now on the upswing partly thanks to Leonardo "Leo" DiCaprio. Actress Kim Raver called her son Leo, as did NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and Kristin Olson.

Leo has a lot of elements going for it: its leonine associations suggest strength of character and physique, its zodiac reference appeals to New Agers, and its 'o' ending gives it added energy.

Famous Leos of the past include Pope Leo the Great and twelve other popes, a number of early saints, and Leo Tolstoy, as well as Dead End Kid Gorcey, colorful baseball manager Durocher, influential gallerist Castelli and the leonine MGM icon. There have been Leos seen on everything from "The West Wing" to "Charmed" to "Grey's Anatomy" to "Seinfeld."

Leo is on an international roll--it is currently Number 10 in both France (where it's pronounced LAY-o) and Sweden.