Our boy list is extremely short. [name]Leo[/name] has been the top choice for a long time now, as it is a family name on both sides, (and one of the few boy names I don’t hate.) But I’m a speech therapist who works with young children, and much to my frustration, I’ve started seeing a [name]Leo[/name] here and there, along with some Lees and definitely some Liams. We [name]DO[/name] NOT want a trendy name. I’ve looked at all the data out there, (behindthename.com says it’s currently #167 and has generally been trending upwards the last few years.) But really, what do those numbers mean? I just don’t want little [name]Leo[/name] to be one of 3 [name]Leos[/name] in his class.
[name]Do[/name] I need to be concerned?
What are you seeing/hearing in your neck of the woods? What are your thoughts?
I don’t know any [name]Leos[/name] in my neck of the woods (Southern [name]California[/name]). Unless the name is a lot more popular in your area than the U.S. as a whole, I can’t imagine that popularity will be a problem.
My first son’s name is [name]Daniel[/name]. Unbeknownst to me at the time, his name was #8 the year he was born. We are very fortunate that he was the only [name]Daniel[/name] in his class all the way through elementary school. (There were about 4 [name]Daniels[/name] in the school of about 600 students.) Currently, [name]Daniel[/name] (who is now in high school) says he knows of “two or three” other [name]Daniels[/name]. So, with [name]Leo[/name] at #167, I believe it has a very long way to go before you need to worry about your son being one of several in his class! My family does not know any [name]Leos[/name]. [name]Leo[/name] is a great name. Since it has family significance, I hope you use it.
It’s definitely following the current trend of boys’ names of a similar style, but I don’t think you need to worry about it being trendy–trendy to me screams fad. [name]Leo[/name] is a classic name. I was worried about the same thing with [name]Jasper[/name] (DS2’s name), but we’re yet to meet another one.
You’d be better off looking at SSA’s list to see where [name]Leo[/name] sits in your state (though they only include Top 100 by state). I know one [name]Leo[/name], and he’s 6 and in my 1st grader’s class at school. My first son’s name is [name]Adrian[/name], and it’s been between 16-20 on the SSA list in [name]Cali[/name] every year since his birth–we have not met or come across another one.
Boys’ names are hard for me too, so I wouldn’t let go of one you love just yet.
I’ve told this story before, but my name was #12 in my birth year. I think I had another [name]Rebecca[/name] in maybe one or two of my classes throughout my entire life. And my high school was around 600 or 700 people maybe? Hard to remember. I am getting old
Birth announcements are the way to go I’ve found.
I think it is still low enough. Sure there is a chance of 2. I have had 3 Jacks and 3 Rileys in a class, and 3 Caitlins. [name]Even[/name] popular choices sometimes don’t appear: this year I don’t have any of the Top 10 names for girls from the matching year they were born: [name]Isabella[/name], [name]Ella[/name], [name]Emily[/name], [name]Chloe[/name], [name]Mia[/name], [name]Olivia[/name] (taught 1 last year), [name]Charlotte[/name], [name]Sophie[/name], [name]Sienna[/name], [name]Jessica[/name] (taught 1 6yrs ago).
Boys: [name]Jack[/name] (taught 3 -2yrs ago- none this year), [name]William[/name] (1), [name]Joshua[/name], [name]Lachlan[/name] (1 this year, 1 last year, 1 year before),[name]Thomas[/name] (1 year before), [name]Riley[/name] (taught 3 in one class), [name]Cooper[/name] (taught one), [name]James[/name], [name]Noah[/name], [name]Ethan[/name]
As you can see some of the MOST popular names I have never taught at all even in recent years. So I think [name]Leo[/name] is unlikely to have 3.
[name]Leo[/name] is rising. That doesn’t mean you’ll know a lot of, if any, little [name]Leos[/name] in the future. I think as long as it stays out of the top 100, it remains a pretty distinct choice. I love the name. There’s also the less common [name]Leon[/name], or [name]Leopold[/name] or [name]Leonard[/name] to get [name]Leo[/name] as a nickname,
[name]Leo[/name] is rising, but the only [name]Leos[/name] I have known are well above the age of 20. I don’t even think I’ve heard it in passing at a playground or restaurant or something like that.
If you’re worried about it, I agree–what about a less common variant? [name]Leander[/name] and [name]Leopold[/name] are my favorites, but [name]Elliot[/name] and [name]Leonardo[/name] could be options, as well, and [name]Leon[/name], too.
Chiming in here to say that in my area (Seattle area) there seem to be a fair amount of [name]Leos[/name]. I have known or known about (more than just heard of) maybe 5 of them in the past 3-5 years.
Ha I’m a speech therapist too. My problem right now is all the negative associations I have formed over the years with many boys names. I have historically worked with severely impaired students with behavior difficulties. Now I see more typical students but the damage has been done. I really like [name]Leo[/name]. It’s out for us since one of my teachers just used it for her son, but I don’t think it’s too popular.
I haven’t noticed any [name]Leo[/name]'s … I know [name]ONE[/name] who graduates high school next year, but other than that, really haven’t seen the name except on here.
I love the name [name]Leo[/name], It so sweet for a little boy, and still works well for a grown man. I wouldnt worry about it!! I pick my boys names without even checking the ranks and i happened to choose the two most popular ones nowadays [name]Jacob[/name] & [name]Liam[/name]! go figure! I still love their names and dont regret having choosing them…
Btw, I know a [name]Leo[/name] (2ys old) but he lives in [name]Sweeden[/name]! He is the cutesst little boy!
I think [name]Leo[/name] is a great choice!! I would have pushed to use it for one of our twins, but we have a close cousin who had just used it for her son. As many of the previous posters have said, I don’t think you’ll find it too popular, but if you want to check the popularity in your state (if you are American) you can go to baby name wizard, and look up [name]Leo[/name]. They should have a map with a breakdown of state popularity.
Good luck!
I’m hemming and hawing over two names that are getting very popular as well, so I know what you mean. But I’m starting to realize that if you like the name, you should go with it. I understand not wanting to be in the top 10 but [name]Leo[/name] seems far from being there so I say go for it. I’ve only met two little [name]Leos[/name].
Thanks everyone! Your feedback makes me feel better about using [name]Leo[/name]. It is a great name, and I do think I would regret not using it even if it did start getting more popular. Fingers crossed no new teeny-bopper novels starring a vampire named [name]Leo[/name] get published…
