What does Leo mean?
Leo is the Latin word for “lion,” long associated with courage and strength, and shared with the zodiac sign.
What does Miles mean?
Often linked to the Latin miles, “soldier,” though its ultimate origin is debated.
Leo vs Miles
Which is more popular?
Leo is more popular than Miles today: about 8,173 US babies were given the name Leo in 2025, compared with 6,072 named Miles.
| Leo | Miles | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Lion | Soldier; of debated origin |
| Origin | Latin | Latin |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | LEE-oh | MYLZ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2022 (8,293) | 2024 (6,634) |
| In 2025 | 8,173 | 6,072 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Leo
Miles
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Leo | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 47,481 | 35,899 |
| 2010s | 44,706 | 36,601 |
| 2000s | 12,274 | 17,786 |
| 1990s | 4,738 | 9,815 |
| 1980s | 4,541 | 5,672 |
| 1970s | 5,365 | 2,241 |
| 1960s | 9,487 | 2,834 |
| 1950s | 15,536 | 3,174 |
| 1940s | 16,962 | 1,994 |
| 1930s | 22,864 | 1,658 |
| 1920s | 36,960 | 2,337 |
| 1910s | 26,656 | 1,583 |
| 1900s | 5,629 | 413 |
| 1890s | 4,691 | 443 |
| 1880s | 2,098 | 418 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leo or Miles more popular?
Leo is more popular than Miles today: about 8,173 US babies were given the name Leo in 2025, compared with 6,072 named Miles.
What is the difference between Leo and Miles?
Leo means Lion (Latin origin), while Miles means Soldier; of debated origin (Latin origin).
Which name is older, Leo or Miles?
In US records, Leo first appears in 1880 and Miles in 1880, so Leo has the longer recorded history.