What's really going on with Leo?

[tintri]

Our boy list is extremely short. Leo has been the top choice for a long time now, as it is a family name on both sides, (and one of the few boy names I don't hate.) But I'm a speech therapist who works with young children, and much to my frustration, I've started seeing a Leo here and there, along with some Lees and definitely some Liams. We DO NOT want a trendy name. I've looked at all the data out there, (behindthename.com says it's currently #167 and has generally been trending upwards the last few years.) But really, what do those numbers mean? I just don't want little Leo to be one of 3 Leos in his class.

Do I need to be concerned?

What are you seeing/hearing in your neck of the woods? What are your thoughts?

[everwaiteing]

I don't know any Leos in my neck of the woods (Southern California). Unless the name is a lot more popular in your area than the U.S. as a whole, I can't imagine that popularity will be a problem.

My first son's name is Daniel. Unbeknownst to me at the time, his name was #8 the year he was born. We are very fortunate that he was the only Daniel in his class all the way through elementary school. (There were about 4 Daniels in the school of about 600 students.) Currently, Daniel (who is now in high school) says he knows of "two or three" other Daniels. So, with Leo at #167, I believe it has a very long way to go before you need to worry about your son being one of several in his class! My family does not know any Leos. Leo is a great name. Since it has family significance, I hope you use it.

[bellabee]

It's definitely following the current trend of boys' names of a similar style, but I don't think you need to worry about it being trendy--trendy to me screams fad. Leo is a classic name. I was worried about the same thing with Jasper (DS2's name), but we're yet to meet another one.

You'd be better off looking at SSA's list to see where Leo sits in your state (though they only include Top 100 by state). I know one Leo, and he's 6 and in my 1st grader's class at school. My first son's name is Adrian, and it's been between 16-20 on the SSA list in Cali every year since his birth--we have not met or come across another one.

[r_j]

Boys' names are hard for me too, so I wouldn't let go of one you love just yet.
I've told this story before, but my name was #12 in my birth year. I think I had another Rebecca in maybe one or two of my classes throughout my entire life. And my high school was around 600 or 700 people maybe? Hard to remember. I am getting old
Birth announcements are the way to go I've found.

[emiliaj]

I think it is still low enough. Sure there is a chance of 2. I have had 3 Jacks and 3 Rileys in a class, and 3 Caitlins. Even popular choices sometimes don't appear: this year I don't have any of the Top 10 names for girls from the matching year they were born: Isabella, Ella, Emily, Chloe, Mia, Olivia (taught 1 last year), Charlotte, Sophie, Sienna, Jessica (taught 1 6yrs ago).
Boys: Jack (taught 3 -2yrs ago- none this year), William (1), Joshua, Lachlan (1 this year, 1 last year, 1 year before),Thomas (1 year before), Riley (taught 3 in one class), Cooper (taught one), James, Noah, Ethan
As you can see some of the MOST popular names I have never taught at all even in recent years. So I think Leo is unlikely to have 3.

[tintri]

Thanks all, for your insights! I appreciate it!

[nextotonormal14]

Leo is rising. That doesn't mean you'll know a lot of, if any, little Leos in the future. I think as long as it stays out of the top 100, it remains a pretty distinct choice. I love the name. There's also the less common Leon, or Leopold or Leonard to get Leo as a nickname,

[ashthedreamer]

Leo is rising, but the only Leos I have known are well above the age of 20. I don't even think I've heard it in passing at a playground or restaurant or something like that.

If you're worried about it, I agree--what about a less common variant? Leander and Leopold are my favorites, but Elliot and Leonardo could be options, as well, and Leon, too.

Good luck!

[morganeldi]

Chiming in here to say that in my area (Seattle area) there seem to be a fair amount of Leos. I have known or known about (more than just heard of) maybe 5 of them in the past 3-5 years.

[jeska]

There are quite a few little Leos in my neck of the woods. But I'm in Australia, so probably not relevant.