Leonard or ''Leo'' is a common English

masculine Masculinity (also called manhood or manliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as socially constructed, and there is also evidence that some beh ...

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 f ...

and a

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

. The given name and surname originate from the

Old High German Old High German (OHG; ) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally identified as the period from around 500/750 to 1050. Rather than representing a single supra-regional form of German, Old High German encompasses the numerous ...

'' Leonhard'' containing the prefix ''levon'' ("lion") from the Greek Λέων ("lion") through the Latin '' Leo,'' and the suffix ''hardu'' ("brave" or "hardy"). The name has come to mean "lion strength", "lion-strong", or "lion-hearted". Leonard was the name of a Saint in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

period, known as the

patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, fa ...

of prisoners. Leonard is also an Irish origin surname, from the Gaelic ''O'Leannain'' also found as O'Leonard, but often was anglicised to just Leonard, consisting of the prefix ''O'' ("descendant of") and the suffix ''Leannan'' ("lover"). The oldest public records of the surname appear in 1272 in

Huntingdonshire Huntingdonshire (; abbreviated Hunts) is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England, which was historically a county in its own right. It borders Peterborough to the north, Fenland to the north-east, East Cambridgeshire to the e ...

, England, and in 1479 in Ulm, Germany.

Variations

The name has variants in other languages: * Anard/Nardu/Lewnardu/Leunardu (Maltese) * Leen, Leendert, Lenard (Dutch) * Lehnertz, Lehnert (Luxembourgish) * Len (English) * Lénárd (Hungarian) * Lenart (disambiguation) (Slovene) * Linhart (Czech) *

Lennard Lennard may refer to: * Lennard Freeman (born 1995), American basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League * Lennard Pearce (1915–1984), English actor * Dave Lennard (born 1944), English footballer * Henry Lennard (16th–17th cen ...

, diminutive forms Lenny * Lennart (Swedish, Estonian, Dutch) * Lennert (German, Dutch) * Lev (Ukrainian) * Lenni (Finnish) * Lenno (

Groningen Groningen ( , ; ; or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen (province), Groningen province in the Netherlands. Dubbed the "capital of the north", Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of ...

) * Lenny (English) * Leo (many languages) * Leon (English, German, Dutch, Russian, Polish) * Léon (French), León (Spanish) * Léonard (; French) * Leonard = "Renata" in Māori, Waitaha * Leonardo (Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese) * Leonhard, Leonhardt (German) * Leontxo (Basque) * O'Leannáin * O'Lionaird * Leòmhannard (Scottish Gaelic) * Linard (Rhaeto-Romanic / Swiss) * Lionard (Scottish Gaelic)

In other languages

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

: Լեոնարդ (Leonard) * Croatian: Leonard *

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus *Czech (surnam ...

: Leonard * French: Léonard * Georgian: ლეონარდ (Leonard) * German: Leonard, Leonhard, Leonhardt, Lennart *

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

: Λεονάρδος (Leonárdos) *

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

: לֵב־אֲרִי (Lév-Ari) * Hungarian: Lénárd, Leonárd * Indonesian: Leonardo, Leonard, Lenno, Leo, Leon, Lenny * Italian: Leonardo * Latvian: Linards * Lithuanian: Leonardas * Māori: Renātā * Maltese: Nardu * Polish: Leonard * Portuguese: Leonardo * Romanian: Leonard * Russian: Леонард (Leonard) * Serbian: Леонард (Leonard) * Spanish: Leonardo * Swedish: Lennart *

Yiddish Yiddish, historically Judeo-German, is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated in 9th-century Central Europe, and provided the nascent Ashkenazi community with a vernacular based on High German fused with ...

: לעאָנאַרד (Leonard) * Ukrainian: Лев (Lev)

Given name

* Leonard Adleman (born 1945), American computer scientist * Léonard Autié (1751–1820), French hairdresser *

Leonard Baskin Leonard Baskin (August 15, 1922 – June 3, 2000) was an American sculptor, draughtsman and graphic artist, as well as founder of the Gehenna Press (1942–2000). One of America's first fine arts presses, it went on to become "one of the most imp ...

(1922–2000), American artist *

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was th ...

(1918–1990), American conductor and composer * Leonard Burton (born 1964), American football player * Leonard of Chios (died 1458), Catholic archbishop *

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, soc ...

(1934–2016), Canadian singer-songwriter * Leonard Cheshire (1917–1992), British philanthropist * Leonard Doroftei (born 1970), Romanian boxer *

Leonhard Euler Leonhard Euler ( ; ; ; 15 April 170718 September 1783) was a Swiss polymath who was active as a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, logician, geographer, and engineer. He founded the studies of graph theory and topology and made influential ...

(1707–1783), Swiss mathematician * Leonardo Fibonacci (c. 1170 – after 1240), Italian mathematician * Leonard Fairley (born 1951), American football player * Leonard Fournette (born 1995), American football player * Leonhard Fuchs (1501–1566), German physician and natural historian * Leonard Hackney (1855–1938), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court * Leonard Harsh (1801–1866), American politician from Ohio * Leonard Hoffmann, Baron Hoffmann (born 1934), British judge * Leonard Humphries (born 1970), American football player * Leonard Labatt (1838–1897), Swedish tenor * Leonard Lance (born 1952), American politician * Leonard Lansink (born 1956), German actor * Leonard Lauder (1933–2025), American cosmetics industry executive * Leonard "Lenny" Kravitz (born 1964), American singer and songwriter * Leonard M. Kravitz (1931–1951), American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient * Leonard Francis Lindoy (born 1937), Australian chemist * Leonard Livingston (1920–1998), Australian cricketer *

Leonard Maltin Leonard Michael Maltin (born December 18, 1950) is an American film critic, film historian, and author. He is known for his book of film capsule reviews, '' Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide'', published from 1969 to 2014. Maltin was the film criti ...

(born 1950), American film critic and film historian * Leonard Marchand (1933–2016), Canadian politician * Leonard Mlodinow (born 1954), American physicist and writer *

Leonard Nimoy Leonard Simon Nimoy ( ; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor and director, famous for playing Spock in the ''Star Trek'' franchise for almost 50 years. This includes Development of Spock, originating Spock in Star Trek: T ...

(1931–2015), American actor and film director *

Leonard of Noblac Leonard of Noblac (also Leonard of Limoges or Leonard of Noblet; also known as Lienard, Linhart, Lenart, Leonhard, Léonard, Leonardo, Annard; died 559) is a Franks, Frankish saint closely associated with the town and abbey of Saint-Léonard-de- ...

(died 559), Frankish nobleman * Leonard Peikoff (born 1933), Canadian philosopher * Leonard Peltier (born 1944), American Activist * Leonard Pitts (born 1957), American journalist * Leonard of Port Maurice (1676–1751), Italian saint * Leonard Roberts (born 1972), American actor * Leonard "Lennie" Rosenbluth (1933–2022), American basketball player * Leonard Rosenman (1924–2008), American composer * Leonard Rossiter (1926–1984), English actor * Leonard Silverman (1930–2015), New York politician and judge *

Leonard Slatkin Leonard Edward Slatkin (born September 1, 1944) is an American conductor, author and composer. Early life and education Slatkin was born in Los Angeles to a Jewish musical family that came from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. His fat ...

(born 1944), American conductor * Leonard Steinberg, Baron Steinberg (1936–2009), British businessman *

Leonard Stone Leonard Stone ( Steinbock; November 3, 1923 – November 2, 2011) was an American character actor who played supporting roles in over 120 television shows and 35 films. Early life Stone was born in Salem, Oregon, the son of Jewish parents Julia ...

(1923–2011), American actor * Leonard Sumner, indigenous Canadian singer-songwriter *

Leonard Susskind Leonard Susskind (; born June 16, 1940)his 60th birth anniversary was celebrated with a special symposium at Stanford University.in Geoffrey West's introduction, he gives Suskind's current age as 74 and says his birthday was recent. is an Americ ...

(born 1940), American theoretical physicist * Leonard Taylor (disambiguation), multiple people * Leonard Thompson (footballer) (1901–1968), British football player * Leonard Merlyn Wickramasuriya (1916–2002), Sri Lankan Sinhala army brigadier *

Leonard Woolley Sir Charles Leonard Woolley (17 April 1880 – 20 February 1960) was a British archaeologist best known for his Excavation (archaeology), excavations at Ur in Mesopotamia. He is recognized as one of the first "modern" archaeologists who excavat ...

(1880–1960), British archaeologist * Leonard Wong, American military writer * Leonard Wu, American actor, writer and producer

Surname

A–F

* Ada Leonard (1915–1997), American bandleader *

Adam Leonard (singer-songwriter) Adam Leonard (born 27 March 1969) is an English singer-songwriter working mainly in the Folk music, folk, Psychedelic music, psychedelic and electronic music fields. His style is often described as lo-fi music, lo-fi and the subject matter of h ...

(born 1969), English singer-songwriter * Adna Wright Leonard (1874–1943), Methodist Bishop of Buffalo NY * André-Joseph Léonard (born 1940), Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels * Andrew Leonard, American technology journalist * Andy Leonard (1846–1903), baseball * Benny Leonard (born Benjamin Leiner; "The Ghetto Wizard", 1896–1947), American world champion Hall of Fame lightweight boxer * Bill Leonard (politician) (born 1947), American politician *

Bobby Leonard William Robert "Slick" Leonard (July 17, 1932April 13, 2021) was an American professional basketball player, coach and color commentator. He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball, Indiana Hoosiers, where he was a tw ...

(1932–2021), American basketball coach * Brad Leonard (born 1979), New Zealand cricketer * Brendon Leonard (born 1985), rugby union * Brian Leonard (born 1984), American football * Buck Leonard (1907–1997), baseball * Cecil Leonard (1946–2020), American football * Chuck Leonard (1937–2004), radio * Conrad Leonard (1898–2003), pianist * Cynthia Leonard (1828–1908), suffragist * Deane Leonard (born 1999), American football player * Dennis Leonard (born 1951), baseball * Dick Leonard (1930–2021), British politician * Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher) (1892–1952, Hubert Benjamin Leonard), baseball * Dutch Leonard (right-handed pitcher) (Emil John Leonard, 1909–1983), baseball * Edwin Leonard (1823–1900), American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient * Ego Leonard, anonymous Dutch sculptor, painter, guerrilla artist * Elijah Leonard (1814–1891), Canadian politician * Elizabeth Weeks Leonard, American professor *

Elmore Leonard Elmore John Leonard Jr. (October 11, 1925August 20, 2013) was an American novelist, short story author and screenwriter. He was, according to British journalist Anthony Lane, "hailed as one of the best crime writers in the land". His earliest no ...

(1925–2013), American novelist * Emery Clarence Leonard (1892–1968), American botanist *

Fred Churchill Leonard Fred Churchill Leonard (February 16, 1856 – December 5, 1921) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Fred C. Leonard was born in Elmer, Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools, the State normal ...

(1856–1921), American politician * Frederick C. Leonard (1896–1960), American astronomer

G–L

* Gary Leonard (born 1967), basketball * George Leonard (1923–2010), American author * Glenn Leonard (born 1947), American musician * Gloria Leonard (1940–2014), actress * Graham Leonard (1921–2010), Anglican Bishop converted to Catholicism *

Gustav Leonhardt Gustav Maria Leonhardt (30 May 1928 – 16 January 2012) was a Dutch keyboardist, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. He was a leading figure in the historically informed performance movement to perform music on period instruments. Leo ...

(1928–2012), Dutch musician, conductor, musicologist * Harlan Leonard (1905–1983), American jazz musician * Harry Ward Leonard (1861–1915), inventor * Herbert Léonard (1945–2025), French singer, entertainer and historian * Herbert B. Leonard (1922–2006), American producer and writer * Herman Leonard (1923–2010), photographer *

Hookey Leonard James "Hookey" or "Hooky" Leonard (1906–1959) was a Scottish people, Scottish professional footballer. Leonard signed with Cowdenbeath F.C., Cowdenbeath in 1923. He quickly became a club favourite with brilliant performances. However, during ...

, Scottish professional footballer * Hubert Léonard (1819–1890), Belgian violinist * Hugh Leonard (1926–2009), Irish playwright * Isabel Leonard (born 1982), American operatic mezzo-soprano * J. Paul Leonard (1901–1995), American university president, educator * J. Rich Leonard, American judge *

Jack E. Leonard Jack E. Leonard (born Leonard Lebitsky; April 24, 1910 – May 10, 1973) was an Americans, American comedian and actor who made frequent appearances on television variety show, variety and game shows. Biography Leonard was born Leonard Leb ...

(1910–1973), comedian * Jacqueline Leonard (born 1965), Scottish actress * James Leonard (disambiguation), several people * Jason Leonard (born 1968), English rugby union player * Jeffrey Leonard (born 1955), American baseball player * Jerris Leonard (1931–2006), American politician * Jim Leonard (disambiguation), several people * Jimmy Leonard (1927–2022), Irish politician * Joe Leonard (1932–2017), motorsports * John J. Leonard, mayor of Bolingbrook, Illinois * John Leonard (critic) (1939–2008), American critic, pen name Cyclops *

John Leonard (Gaelic footballer) John Leonard (born 20 October 1976) is a Gaelic footballer who played for the St Sylvester's club and the Dublin county team. He was born in Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dubl ...

(born 1976), Gaelic football goalkeeper * John Leonard (poet) (born 1965), Australian poet * Johnny Leonard (1903–1995), Australian rules football * Joseph John Henry Leonard (1863–1929), Australian illustrator * Joshua Leonard (born 1975), actor *

Justin Leonard Justin Charles Garrett Leonard (born June 15, 1972) is an American professional golfer. He has 12 career wins on the PGA Tour, including one major, the 1997 Open Championship. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He is one of only five ...

(born 1972), American golfer * Kawhi Leonard (born 1991), American basketball player * Larry Leonard (1934–2002), American politician * Lee Leonard (1929–2018), US TV personality * Louise Wareham Leonard, American author

M–Z

* Marion Leonard (1881–1956), actress * Mark Leonard (footballer) (born 1962), association football * Marshall Leonard (born 1980), soccer player * Matthew Leonard (1929–1967), Medal of Honor recipient * Meyers Leonard (born 1992), American basketball player * Michael Leonard (disambiguation), several people * Minnetta Sammis Leonard (1879 – 1960), American educator * Miriam Leonard (born 1977), British professor of Greek literature *

Patricia Leonard Patricia Leonard (9 March 1936 – 28 January 2010) was an English opera singer, best known for her performances in mezzo-soprano and contralto roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. After working as a secretary, Le ...

(1936–2010), English opera singer * Patrick James Leonard (1847–1899), Medal of Honor recipient * Patrick Leonard (born 1956), American songwriter * Patrick Thomas Leonard (1828–1905), Indian Wars Medal of Honor recipient * Paul Leonard (politician) (born 1943), American politician *

Paul Leonard (writer) Paul J. Leonard Hinder, published as Paul Leonard and originally P.J.L. Hinder, is an author best known for his work on various Doctor Who spin-offs, spin-off fiction based on the long-running British science fiction on television, science fictio ...

, UK author * Philippe Léonard (born 1974), soccer * Priscilla Leonard, pen name for Emily Perkins Bissell, an American social worker and activist * Ranginui Parewahawaha Leonard (1872–1984), New Zealand weaver, farmer and kuia * Rick Leonard (born 1996), American football * Robert A. Leonard, American linguist known for his forensic work and former singer for Sha Na Na *

Robert Maynard Leonard Robert Maynard Leonard (10 May 1869 – 13 July 1941), sometimes credited as R. Maynard Leonard, was an English journalist, editor, and light poet, the editor of many anthologies of English verse. Early life The Leonards were a family of merchants ...

(1869–1941), English journalist and editor * Robert Sean Leonard (born 1969), actor *

Robert Z. Leonard Robert Zigler Leonard (October 7, 1889 – August 27, 1968) was an American film director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. Biography He was born in Chicago, Illinois. At one time, he was married to Silent film, silent star Mae Murray with t ...

(1889–1968), director * Ronald Leonard, cellist * Ryan Leonard (ice hockey) (born 2005), American ice hockey player *

Ralph Leonard Ralph Micheal Leonard also known as Ralph Leonard (born May 9, 1996) is an international British Nigerians, British Nigerian journalist, film critic, author, and commentator. He won the Jom Charity Award and in 2024 he won the Yessiey Awards for ...

, international British Nigerian journalist, film critic, author * Sarah Leonard (archer) (1862–1951), archery * Scott Leonard (born 1965), American musician * Shaquille Leonard (born 1995), American football * Sheldon Leonard (1907–1997), American film and TV producer * Silvio Leonard (born 1955), Cuban sprinter * Sonny Leonard (1943–2021), American businessman * Stan Leonard (1915–2005), Canadian golfer * Stephen B. Leonard (1793–1876), American politician * Steve Leonard (born 1972), English TV personality *

Sugar Ray Leonard Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956), best known as Sugar Ray Leonard, is an American former professional boxer. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed professionally between 1977 and 1997, winning quintuple c ...

(born 1956), American boxer * Thomas Arthur Leonard (1864–1948), English pioneer of outdoor holidays * Tom Leonard (Irish politician) (1924–2004) * Tom Leonard (poet) (1944–2018), Scottish poet * Tony Leonard (born 1947), Australian radio presenter * Turney W. Leonard (1921–1944), Medal of Honor recipient * Vincent Leonard (1908–1994), Bishop of Pittsburgh * William E. Leonard (1836–1891), American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient * William Ellery Leonard (1876–1944), American poet *

William J. Leonard William J. "Bill" Leonard (April 27, 1927 – July 20, 2006) was an end for the University of Notre Dame's undefeated football team, which won 1947 the National Championship. Earlier, he had won recognition as an All-City football player at ...

(1927–2006), American football * William Leonard (Scottish politician) (1887–1969) * Wrexie Leonard (1867–1937), American astronomer * Leonard (baseball), first name unknown, played in one Major League Baseball game in 1892

Fictional characters

* Anatole Leonard, in the ''Robotech'' series * Leonard (demon), in the ''Dictionnaire Infernal'' * Léonard, title character in the Belgian comic of the same name * Leonard, a character from '' Total Drama: Pahkitew Island'' and '' The Ridonculous Race'' * Leonard W. "Lennie" Briscoe, a detective in ''Law & Order'' * Private Leonard Church, from ''Red vs. Blue'' * Leonard Hofstadter, in ''The Big Bang Theory'' * Leonard von Lahnstein, character from German soap opera ''Forbidden Love'' * Lenny Leonard, in ''The Simpsons'' * Lockie Leonard, in children's novels by Tim Winton * Leonard McCoy, in the ''Star Trek'' series * King Leonard Mudbeard, a ruler of Piggy Island and antagonist of ''

The Angry Birds Movie ''The Angry Birds Movie'' is a 2016 animated comedy film based on Rovio Entertainment's ''Angry Birds'' franchise, produced by Columbia Pictures and Rovio Animation, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film was directed by Clay Kay ...

'' * Leonard Rollins, a character in ''

Silver Spoons ''Silver Spoons'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982, to May 11, 1986, and in first-run syndication from September 27, 1986, to May 30, 1987. The series was produced by Embassy Television for th ...

'' * Leonard Shelby, main character in the movie ''Memento'' * Lennie Small, in the novel ''

Of Mice and Men ''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novella written by American author John Steinbeck. It describes the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant worker, migrant ranch workers, as they move from place to place in California ...

'' * Leonard Smith, a character in the American sitcom '' It's Garry Shandling's Show'' * Leonard Snart, Captain Cold from ''The Flash comics'' and TV series * Leonard "Lenny" Summers, a character from ''

Red Dead Redemption 2 ''Red Dead Redemption 2'' is a 2018 action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. The game is the third entry in the ''Red Dead'' series and a prequel to the 2010 game ''Red Dead Redemption''. The story is set in a fictiona ...

References

{{given name, type=both English-language masculine given names English masculine given names Given names derived from animals Masculine given names English-language surnames