Leonardo

Quick Facts on Leonardo

Gender:
Boy
Origin:
Italian, Spanish
Number of syllables:
4
Ranking popularity:
131

Pronunciation:

lee-oh-NAHR-doh

Simple meaning:

Brave lion

Characteristics of Leonardo

Communicative
Creative
Optimistic
Popular
Social
Dramatic
Happy

Etymology & Historical Origin - Leonardo

Leonardo is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese version of the English name Leonard. Leonardo is one of those rare examples of ethnic crossover names which is now widely adopted by English-speaking nations. It has a very strong Italian/Spanish flair and it acquired an enormous amount of currency from one of its most famous bearers: Leonardo da Vinci. Léonard started out as an Old French name of Germanic etymological origins from the words “leon” meaning ‘lion’ and “hard” meaning ‘brave, strong, hardy.’ The name was popularized in medieval Europe thanks to a 5th century Frankish saint, Léonard of Noblac whose cult rapidly spread in the 12th century. In an area of ancient France (before France was even France but a province of Gaul), Léonard of Noblac was a nobleman who converted to Christianity. He is known for freeing prisoners he found worthy and bringing them to his forest dwelling to work an honest life. Legend has it that upon invoking Léonard, prisoners would see their chains break before their eyes. It is said they often brought these broken chains to Léonard in homage to their hero. He is thus the patron saint to prisoners, and was one of the most venerated saints of the Middle Ages.

Popularity of the Name Leonardo

As mentioned above, Leonardo is an old name that has been in use for centuries. However, at the turn of the 20th century in America, Leonardo shows up on the charts at very low levels of usage. The name finally sticks in the early 1940s and shows consistent growth from that point on. The name’s advancement up the charts has not been dramatic or fast, but rather slow and quiet. The only hiccup is between 1997 and 1998 when Leonardo jumped 150 positions in those years alone. 1997 was when the massive blockbuster “Titanic” was released staring the ever-dreamy Leonardo DiCaprio. Obviously, the actor gave a boost to the usage of his own name. Today, Leonardo is more popular than Leonard in America, one of the few examples of a Spanish name beating out its English counterpart. The name is no longer exclusive to Hispanic-Americans or those of Italian or Portuguese descent. It’s a universally loved name. However, it does appear certain that the American Latino population is at least partially behind the name’s growth. It’s a Top 100 name in two states with a high concentration of Hispanics: California and Texas. We hope to see this “Brave Lion” continue on up the charts!

Popularity of the Boy Name Leonardo

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Cultural References to the Baby Name - Leonardo

Popular Songs on Leonardo

Hey Leonardo - a song by Blessid Union of Souls
Children's Books on the Baby Name Leonardo

Leo the Late Bloomer (Robert Kraus) - Leo isn't reading, or writing, or drawing, or even speaking, and his father is concerned. But Leo's mother isn't. She knows her son will do all those things, and more, when he's ready. Reassuring for other late bloomers, this book is illustrated with beguiling pictures. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Leonardo and the Flying Boy (Laurence Anholt) - There were no spaceships or airplanes when Zoro was a boy. He lived in Italy during the era we now call the Renaissance, a time when the sky belonged to the birds. But one unusual man dreamed of incredible flying machines. "One day, Zoro," he told his pupil, "people will sail through the clouds and look down at the world below." Zoro was curious. He knew that his teacher did more than merely dream about the future, but was an important artist and inventor. Then Zoro made an astonishing discovery. His teacher was building a mysterious machine. A machine intended to fly! Here begins a fascinating story based on a true event, for Zoro's master was the famous artist and inventor, Leonardo da Vinci. Recommended for ages 5-8.

Leonardo Da Vinci (Diane Stanley) - A biography of the Italian Renaissance artist and inventor who, at about age thirty, began writing his famous notebooks which contain the outpourings of his amazing mind. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Leonardo Da Vinci: Dreams, Schemes, and Flying Machines (Heinz Kuhne) - Discover more about the life and inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci. Recommended for ages 9-12.

Leonardo's Horse (Jean Fritz) - Leonardo da Vinci always dreamed of capturing the power and beauty of a horse in motion. It would be sculpted in bronze, three times larger than any living horse, and it would stand before the palace of the Duke of Milan. Leonardo studied real horses, sketched plans, and even built a clay model, but the model was destroyed and he was never able to finish his horse. Five hundred years after his death an enterprising American, Charles Dent, read about Leonardo's dream, and resolved to make it come true. Today, in Milan, there stands a perfect horse, three times larger than a living horse. Recommended for ages 4-7.

Leonardo, the Terrible Monster (Mo Willems) - Leonardo is truly a terrible monster -- terrible at being a monster, that is. Despite his best efforts, he can’t seem to frighten anyone. But when he discovers the perfect nervous little boy, will he finally scare the tuna salad out of him? Or will he think of something even better? A delightful little book that will keep you chuckling away. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? (Roberta Edwards) - Presents the life and accomplishments of the famous artist, scientist, engineer, and inventor. Recommended for ages 9-12.
Famous People Named Leonardo

Famous People Named Leonardo - Leonardo da Vinci (artist, inventor, genious); Leonardo DiCaprio (actor); Leonardo Araújo (soccer player); Leonardo Bonucci (soccer player); Leonardo Torres y Quevedo (Spanish engineer/mathmetician); Leonardo Mayer (tennis player); Leonardo Pisano Bigollo (Italian Mathematician)
Children of Famous People Named Leonardo

Famous People who Named their Son Leonardo - We cannot find any celebrities or famous people who have named their child Leonardo.
Leonardo - Boy Baby Name - Historic Figures

Leonardo da Vinci (15 Apr 1452 - 2 May 1519) - Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was a true Renaissance Man in every sense of the word. He came from humble beginnings as the illegitimate child of an Italian notary and a peasant girl in Vinci, Italy (near Florence). He would eventually be raised by his father who gave him access to a vast supply of scholarly texts, which was a good thing since this boy had an insatiable curiosity. His father apprenticed the 15 year old Leonardo to Verrocchio, a renowned Florentine painter, where his genius became quickly apparent. Leonardo is mainly known as a painter and two of his works in particular are known in every corner of the world: The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper (two of the most reproduced works of arts in history). He is also known for his notebooks (which he never published) displaying his brilliance as an architect, scientist, engineer, inventor, botanist, geologist and so much more. This was a man way, way, WAY ahead of his time. His genius was practically superhuman.