Papal Names: A Modern Name for a Modern Pope
Robert Prevost, the newly elected pope, will be known by the papal name Leo XIV. This makes Leo the fourth-most popular papal name, tied with Clement at fourteen uses each.
As a baby name, Leo is currently trending around the world. It's a Top 10 choice in Canada, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, and a Top 100 name in at least a dozen more countries. In the US, Leo is Number 18 as of 2023.
Leo has a youthful, high-energy sound (helped by that O ending) It's a fitting choice for a young pope who hopes to be a unifying figure.
Popes have been picking their own regnal names since the year 533, when a pontiff with the pagan name of Mercurius switched to the more biblical John II. Now it is tradition to choose a papal name that signifies aspirations for the papacy — typically that of a previous pope.
Pope Leo XIII — the inspiration for Leo XIV's chosen name — headed the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903. He wrote extensively on social justice issues and worked to bring the Church into the modern world.
Pope Francis, Leo XIV's predecessor, broke precedent by picking a papal name that had never been used before. He named himself after St. Francis of Assisi, the venerated patron saint of animals and the environment, known for his humility.
There are only 81 distinct names among the 265 elected popes. Here are the most common papal names, with the number of popes with each name listed in parentheses.
Top Papal Names
1. John (21)
2. Gregory (16)
3. Benedict (15)
6. Innocent (13)
7. Pius (12)
8. Stephen (9)
11. Alexander (7)
14. Celestine, Nicholas, and Sixtus (5)
17. Anastasius, Eugene, Honorious, and Sergius (4)
21. Callixtus, Felix, Julius, Lucius, Martin, Sylvester, and Victor (3)
Unique Papal Names
Below, a selection of names only used by a single pope, including Francis, the chosen name of Pope Leo XIV's predecessor.