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