Leonidas

leh-oh-NEE-das, lee-oh-NYE-dus
Greek
"lion"

Leonidas Origin and Meaning

The name Leonidas is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "lion".

Leonidas is an ancient name that has started rising again along with centuries-old names such as Augustus and Cato. The original Leonidas was the most famous of Sparta's warriors, sacrificing his life at the Battle of Thermopylae; there is also a saint Leonidas.

More stately than Leon, more melodious than Leonard, Leonidas is a leonine name that commands respect. In Greek, the name is pronounced leh-oh-NEE-das, but Americans tend to say lee-oh-NYE-dus.

# 477 in the US

Leonidas Rank in US Top 1000

# 856 on Nameberry

Leonidas Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Leonidas Popularity

Famous People Named Leonidas

  • Leonidas I and II
    Kings of Sparta
  • Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney
    American actor
  • Leonidas Polk
    American Confederate Civil War general
  • Leonidas E. "Lonie" Paxton
    American NFL football player
  • Leonidas da Silva
    Brazilian footballer
  • Leonidas Donskis
    Lithuanian politician
  • Leonidas Sabanis
    Greek Olympic weightlifter
  • Leonidas Sexton
    U.S. Congressman from Indiana
  • Leonidas Flores (Reyes)
    Costa Rican footballer
  • Leonidas Carstarphen Dyer
    U.S. Congressman from Missouri
  • Dimitri Leonidas
    English actor
  • Georgina Leonidas
    English actress

Leonidas in Pop Culture

  • Leonidas
    Belgian chocolate
  • Leonidas Komninos
    character in "Thread" by Victoria Hislop
  • Leonidas "Leo" Valdez
    character of the series "Heroes of Olympus" and "Trials of Apollo" by Rick Riordan

Leonidas in Nameberry Blog Posts