Meaning and Origin of the name Leonard

The name Leonard, considered to be a boys name, is of both French and German origin. The meaning of Leonard in both origins is “Lion- bold.” or brave as a lion which adds to the names masculine sound. Though it is a variant of the Dutch name Leonard it is pronounced the same.

Popularity of the Name

The popularity of Leonard as a name has changed periodically through the years but currently is it not very common as a male first name. The most common way that you can find the name Lennard is when it is being used as a surname. The spelling Leonard is the most commonly used spelling of the name.

In the 1950’s Lennard reached its highest rank in popularity in the US but neither spelling is. currently found in the top 1000 baby names. In 2015, in England Leonard was not in the top 100 baby boys’ names.

History of the name Leonard

In the Middle Ages, people would name their children after saints because they believed the child would be blessed or protected by that saint. In this context, the origin of Leonard as a surname comes from the time of the Anglo Saxons and originally comes from Saint Leonard who was one of the most venerated saints of the Middle Ages.

Famous People with the Name

• Lennard Pearce – the actor who played granddad in the comedy series Only Fools and Horses,
• Lennard Sowah – German football player who plays his football in Scotland.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of other English boys’ names on our website.