DH and I both love the name [name]Leo[/name], but I can’t get passed the nickname-iness of it. I feel there needs to be a more traditional name with the nn [name]Leo[/name]. However, we have a 4-syllable Italian last name, so [name]Leonardo[/name] seems very long to me. We haven’t ruled it out, but we’re looking at other possibilities (I’m not pregnant yet, so we have some time). DH would prefer “[name]Lionel[/name].” I’m not sold on it or “[name]Leon[/name],” however. [name]How[/name] do ya’ll think “[name]Leander[/name]” or “[name]Leandro[/name]” would go over in the US? I’m scared it seems too feminine, but that may just be because I grew up with a girl named [name]Leanne[/name]. Any other suggestions?
I like [name]Lionel[/name], also. Of the other two, I like [name]Leandro[/name] best. Maybe you could make it Leondro. [name]Landon[/name] is another alternative. A nickname doesn’t have to be all that close to the original.
I really like [name]Leander[/name] and I don’t think it would come of as being feminine in the US. I would have never thought to compare it to the name [name]LeeAnne[/name]. I prefer [name]Leander[/name] to [name]Leandro[/name] just because I find [name]Leander[/name] easier to say, but both are nice. What a great way to get to [name]Leo[/name]!
[name]Leander[/name] ftw!
I like [name]Leander[/name] best!
Also like the suggestions:
[name]Landon[/name]
[name]Langdon[/name]
[name]Lionel[/name]
[name]Leopold[/name]
I love [name]Leander[/name]! I think it’s a great way to get the nn [name]Leo[/name]. 
[name]Leandro[/name] or Leandre, too. I think it’s a great name. I’m actually considering using [name]Leander[/name] as a MN ([name]Jack[/name] [name]Leander[/name] B____).
Other [name]Leo[/name] names I can think of would be [name]Leopold[/name] and [name]Elliot[/name]. [name]Leon[/name], nn [name]Leo[/name], seemed almost odd to me. [name]Kinda[/name] like using the nn [name]Ella[/name] for [name]Bella[/name], or [name]Ella[/name] as a nn for [name]Stella[/name]. And if your surname is fairly long, I don’t know if I would do [name]Leonardo[/name] if your surname is fairly long–then again, my sister recently graduated with a [name]Leo[/name] (full name [name]Leonardo[/name]), and his surname was four syllables, I believe. I don’t think it’d be that bad, unless your surname LOOKS long, as well as sounds long.
[name]Leander[/name] gets my vote, though, for what it’s worth!
Wow. I’ve had the exact same thought about [name]Leo[/name]! I do love [name]Leander[/name], but [name]Elliot[/name] seems an interesting choice that’s a bit more mainstream, if you’re concerned about that. Best of luck! Let us know what you decide.
I’ve always felt that [name]Leander[/name] was a strong and masculine name. [name]Leandro[/name] (lay-AHN-dro) has a softer sound and may flow better with your Italian surname. I love just [name]Leo[/name] and [name]Leopold[/name] as well. I don’t find [name]Leo[/name] very nicknamey. After all, there were saints and popes named [name]Leo[/name]. Another unusual choice would be [name]Galileo[/name] but then you’re getting another four syllable name. Good luck, [name]Mischa[/name].
Ooooh! I love the thought of [name]Elliot[/name] nn [name]Leo[/name].
Wow, I never would have thought of [name]Elliot[/name] as a way to get to nn [name]Leo[/name]! Very creative! I also hadn’t thought of [name]Galileo[/name], but I don’t think it flows well with our last name. I agree that [name]Leander[/name] sounds more masculine but I think having the “o” in [name]Leandro[/name] somehow makes “[name]Leo[/name]” easier to get to… does that make sense? Thanks everyone for the suggestions! DH and I will have a lot to discuss (hopefully soon!)
I just figured I would add–recently the office where I’m doing my internship hired a [name]Leo[/name]. His full FN is [name]Leandro[/name] (he’s from the Dominican Republic, I believe), nn [name]Leo[/name]. Seriously, he’s like the most he-man guy I’ve ever seen! So I think that even though it has a bit of a feminine sound, I think [name]Leandro[/name] is definitely masculine! Maybe it’s just the association I have with it now, though. Either way, I think [name]Leander[/name] or [name]Leandro[/name] would be a fabulous choice.
[name]Glad[/name] everyone liked [name]Elliot[/name], too. I can’t believe no one else mentioned it! It’s such a popular choice on another baby name site I’m a part of.