Leo is a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

in several languages. In European languages it is usually a masculine given name and it comes from the Latin word ''

leo Leo or Léo may refer to: Acronyms * Law enforcement officer * Law enforcement organisation * ''Louisville Eccentric Observer'', a free weekly newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky * Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Arts an ...

'' which in turns comes from the Greek word λέων meaning "

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...

". It can also refer to the name Leonard or Leopold. In Japanese, Leo or Reo (怜央) is usually a masculine given name. The name can refer to:

People

Religious figures

Leo of Constantinople Leo Styppes ( el, ), (died January 12, 1143) was Patriarch of Constantinople from 1134 until his death in 1143. He was a presbyter at Hagia Sophia before his ascension. He reigned uneventfully during the rule of Byzantine emperor John II Comnen ...

(fl. 1134–1143), Patriarch of Constantinople * Leo Rajendram Antony (1927–2012), 4th

Bishop of Trincomalee The Diocese of Trincomalee ( la, Dioecesis Trincomaliensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese for eastern Sri Lanka. The current bishop is Noel Emmanuel Christian Noel Emmanuel (born 25 December 1960) is a Sri Lankan Tamil priest and the current Roma ...

* Leo Baeck (1873–1956), German rabbi, scholar, and theologian *

Leo Zhedenov Leo Zhedenov (born in 1883, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire – 1959, Lyon, France) was a participant of the Russian apostolate in the 20th century. Biography Until 1917 Leo Zhedenov worked as assistant in the Prosecutor Court of Justice in Saint ...

(1883–1959), member of the Russian apostolate * Leo Baeck (1873–1956), German rabbi, scholar, and theologian *

Pope Leo (disambiguation) Pope Leo was the name of thirteen Roman Catholic Popes: *Pope Leo I (the Great) (440–461) * Pope Leo II (682–683) *Pope Leo III (795–816) *Pope Leo IV (847–855) * Pope Leo V (903) *Pope Leo VI (928) *Pope Leo VII (936–939) * Pope Leo VIII ...

, 13 popes * List of saints named Leo

Rulers

Emperor Leo (disambiguation) Emperor Leo may refer to: * Leo I (emperor) (401–474), Byzantine emperor and Eastern Orthodox saint * Leo II (emperor) (467–474), Byzantine emperor * Leo III the Isaurian (c. 685–741), Byzantine emperor * Leo IV the Khazar (750–780), Byzanti ...

, six Byzantine emperors *

King Leo (disambiguation) King Leo may refer to: * Leo I, King of Armenia (1150–1219), sometimes also referred to as Leo II, to be distinguished from Leo I, Prince of Armenia * Leo II, King of Armenia (1236–1289), sometimes also referred to as Leo III * Leo III, ...

, various kings and monarchs with the ruling name Leo * Leo I, Prince of Armenia (died 1140)

Scientists

* Leo Kadanoff (born 1937), American physicist * Leó Szilárd (1898–1964), Jewish Hungarian-American physicist * Reona Leo Esaki (born 1925), Japanese physicist and Nobel laureate

In sports

Association football

* Leo Beenhakker (born 1942), Dutch football manager *

Leo Bosschart Leonard ("Leo") François Gerard Bosschart (24 August 1888 in Kota Radja, Dutch East Indies – 9 May 1951 in Hoboken, Antwerp, Belgium) was a football player from the Netherlands, who captained his home country at the 1920 Summer Olympics in A ...

(1888–1951), Dutch footballer * Leo Fortune-West (born 1971), English footballer * Leo Krupnik (born 1979), Ukrainian-born American-Israeli former soccer player and current soccer coach * Leo Messi (born 1987), Argentine footballer

Other sports

* Leo Baker (skateboarder) (born 1991), American skateboarder *

Leo Barry Leo Barry (born 19 May 1977) is a retired Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League (AFL) with the Sydney Swans. Originally from Deniliquin, New South Wales, Barry attended Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, before being d ...

(born 1977), Australian rules footballer *

Leo Cantor Leo "the Lion" Cantor (February 28, 1919 – June 4, 1995) was a Jewish American football player. He was the 1937 Los Angeles All-City quarterback recipient, played college football for the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins, and played in the Natio ...

(1919–1995), American NFL football player * Leo Chenal (born 2000), American football player * Leo Durocher (1905–1991), American baseball player and manager * Leo Klein Gebbink (born 1968), Dutch field hockey player *

Leo Koloamatangi Mafileo "Leo" Koloamatangi (born May 9, 1994) is an American football center who is a free agent. He played college football at Hawaii, and was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He has also been a member of the New Yo ...

(born 1994), American football player * Leo Komarov (born 1987), Finnish ice hockey player * Leo Mazzone (born 1948), pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles * Leo Monahan (journalist) (1926–2013), American sports journalist * Leo Nomellini (1924–2000), American football player in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame * Leo Peelen (1968–2017), Dutch track cyclist * Leo Visser (born 1966), Dutch ice speed skater *

Leo van Vliet Leonardus Quirinus Machutus ("Leo") van Vliet (born 15 November 1955) was a professional racing cyclist from 1978 to 1986. He came in 40th in the road race at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Leo Arnaud (1904–1991), French-American composer * Leo de Berardinis (1940–2008), Italian stage actor and theatre director * Leo de Bever (1930–2015), Dutch architect * Leo G. Carroll (1886–1972), English actor *

Leo Chiosso Leo Chiosso (b. Turin, 8 August 1920 – d. Chieri, Italy, 26 November 2006) was an Italian lyricist mostly known for his work with Fred Buscaglione. They formed a songwriting duo who produced about forty songs and created Buscaglione's p ...

(1920 - 2006), Italian lyricist * Leo F. Forbstein (1892–1948), American film musical director and orchestra conductor * Leo Gorcey (1917–1969), American actor * Leo Howard (born 1997), American actor and martial artist *

Leo von König Leo Freiherr von König (1871-1944) was a German painter and member of the Berlin Secession. Biography Leo was the eldest son of Götz von König, a military officer who later became a General of the Cavalry, and his wife Baroness Hertha von Cr ...

(1871–1944), German painter * Leo Kottke (born 1945), American Finger-style Guitarist * Leo Ku (born 1972), Hong Kong singer and actor * Leo Rosten (1908–1997), American humorist * Leo Saussay (born 1990), Thai actor and singer * Leo Sayer (born 1948), British-born Australian pop musician * Leo Tolstoy (1826–1910), Russian novelist

Politicians

* Leo von Caprivi (1831–1899), German general and Chancellor of Germany * Leo Fernando (1895–1954), Sri Lankan Sinhala businessman, Member of Parliament for Buttala Electoral District * Leo Ryan (1925–1978), California Congressman killed at Jonestown *

Leo Varadkar Leo Eric Varadkar ( ; born 18 January 1979) is an Irish politician who has served as Taoiseach since December 2022, and previously from 2017 to 2020. He served as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from June 2020 to De ...

(born 1979), Irish politician and Tánaiste

Other

* Leo of Tripoli (died after 921/2), Greek renegade and admiral for the Abbasid Caliphate * Leo Africanus (c. 1494–c. 1554?), Andalusian Berber Moorish diplomat and author * Leo Burnett (1891–1971), American advertising executive * Leo Fender (1909–1991), American inventor, maker of electric guitars * Leo Frank (1884–1915), American Jew murdered by a lynch mob * Leo Jogiches (1867–1919), Russian Marxist revolutionary * Leo Krim (2010–2012), American child killed along with his sister Lucia by their nanny * Leo Laporte (born 1956), American technology broadcaster and author *

A. Leo Levin A. Leo Levin (January 9, 1919 – November 24, 2015) was the Leon Meltzer Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Biography Levin was born in New York City to Issaachar and Minerva Hilda (Shapiro) Levin, and grew up in Tre ...

(1919–2015), American law professor * Leo Loudenslager (1944–1997), American world champion aerobatics aviator *

Leo Strauss Leo Strauss (, ; September 20, 1899 – October 18, 1973) was a German-American political philosopher who specialized in classical political philosophy. Born in Germany to Jewish parents, Strauss later emigrated from Germany to the United States. ...

(1899–1973), American political philosopher

Fictional characters

* Dr. Leo Marvin, a character played by

Richard Dreyfuss Richard Stephen Dreyfuss (; born Dreyfus; October 29, 1947) is an American actor. He is known for starring in popular films during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, including ''American Graffiti'' (1973), ''Jaws'' (1975), ''Close Encounters of the T ...

in the 1991 American comedy movie '' What About Bob?'' * Leo Beck, a hunter in the video game ''

Identity V ''Identity V'' is a free-to-play asymmetrical multiplayer survival horror game developed and published by Chinese company NetEase. It was released in July 2018 for mobile devices. It is available on the iOS App Store, Android Google Play Stor ...

'' *

Leo Corbett (Power Rangers) ''Power Rangers Lost Galaxy'' is an American television series and the seventh season of the ''Power Rangers'' franchise, based on the ''Super Sentai'' series ''Seijuu Sentai Gingaman''. The series was written by Judd Lynn and aired for 45 episod ...

, on the television series ''Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy'' * Leo Demidov, character in “

Child 44 ''Child 44'' (published in 2008) is a thriller novel by British writer Tom Rob Smith. This is the first novel in a trilogy featuring former MGB Agent Leo Demidov, who investigates a series of gruesome child murders in Joseph Stalin's Soviet ...

” * Leo from the manga series, Pandora Hearts * Leo Jones (Doctor Who), on the television series ''Doctor Who'' * Leo Kliesen, a German spelunker in the ''

Tekken is a Japanese Media mix, media franchise centered on a series of fighting game, fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment (formerly Namco). The franchise also includes film and print adaptations. The ...

'' series *

Leo Kovalensky ''We the Living'' is the debut novel of the Russian American novelist Ayn Rand. It is a story of life in post-revolutionary Russia and was Rand's first statement against communism. Rand observes in the foreword that ''We the Living'' was the c ...

, from the novel ''We the Living'' by Ayn Rand *

Leo McGarry Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by American actor John Spencer on the television serial drama '' The West Wing''. This role earned Spencer the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2002. ...

, on the television series ''The West Wing'' * Leo Fitz, on the television series ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'', played by

Iain De Caestecker Iain De Caestecker ( ; born 29 December 1987) is a Scottish actor. He is best known for portraying Leopold Fitz/The Doctor in the television series ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.''. He is also known for his roles in Coronation Street as Adam Barlow ...

* Leo Ross, a character in the 1989 American action comedy movie '' Speed Zone'' * Leo, a nickname for Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles * Leo Wong, the father of Amy Wong on the television series ''Futurama'' * Leo Valdez, a son of Hephaestus from Rick Riordan's '' The Heroes of Olympus'' fantasy novel series * Leo Wyatt, on the television series ''Charmed'' * Uncle Leo, on the television series ''Seinfeld'' * Leo (That '70s Show), on the television series ''That '70s Show'', played by Tommy Chong *

Leo (comics) Leo is the name of different fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Publication history The original Leo first appeared in ''The Avengers'' #72 (Jan. 1970), and was created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema. ...

, in the Marvel universe *

Leo (Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's) The following is a list of characters from the ''Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's'' anime series. Names refer to the 4K Media English version, with the original Japanese names presented in the descriptions where available. Some international releases feature a ...

, in the manga series ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' * A character in the video game series ''

'' * A character in the opera '' Leo, the Royal Cadet'' * A character in the video game '' Final Fantasy VI'' * A character in ''Red Earth'' (video game) (aka ''Warzard'') * Leo, in the American animated series '' Little Einsteins'' * A character in the anime and manga series '' Fairy Tail'', who also goes by the name of "Loke" * A character in the video game '' Fire Emblem Fates'' *

Leo Leo or Léo may refer to: Acronyms * Law enforcement officer * Law enforcement organisation * ''Louisville Eccentric Observer'', a free weekly newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky * Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Arts an ...

, a character in the Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger * Leo Lieberman, daughter of David "Micro" Lieberman and Sarah Lieberman in '' The Punisher'', portrayed by Ripley Sobo