What does Leroy mean?
From the Old French 'le roi', meaning 'the king', originally a Norman nickname or occupational byname. A literal 'the king' name.
What does Leon mean?
Léon comes from the Latin and Greek for “lion.”
Leroy vs Leon
Which is more popular?
Leon is more popular than Leroy today: about 2,583 US babies were given the name Leon in 2025, compared with 0 named Leroy.
| Leroy | Leon | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | the king | Lion |
| Origin | french | French |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | luh-ROY | lay-OHN |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1924 (3,922) | 1924 (2,677) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 2,583 |
| Trend | Vintage | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Leroy
Leon
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Leroy | Leon |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,596 | 14,110 |
| 2010s | 2,173 | 11,768 |
| 2000s | 2,159 | 5,062 |
| 1990s | 3,554 | 5,176 |
| 1980s | 5,600 | 7,627 |
| 1970s | 8,408 | 9,854 |
| 1960s | 15,220 | 13,823 |
| 1950s | 24,588 | 21,341 |
| 1940s | 33,864 | 23,578 |
| 1930s | 36,255 | 23,005 |
| 1920s | 37,871 | 25,577 |
| 1910s | 21,275 | 15,280 |
| 1900s | 4,300 | 2,859 |
| 1890s | 2,544 | 2,103 |
| 1880s | 1,574 | 1,475 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leroy or Leon more popular?
Leon is more popular than Leroy today: about 2,583 US babies were given the name Leon in 2025, compared with 0 named Leroy.
What is the difference between Leroy and Leon?
Leroy means the king (french origin), while Leon means Lion (French origin).
Which name is older, Leroy or Leon?
In US records, Leroy first appears in 0 and Leon in 1880, so Leroy has the longer recorded history.