Leno
A masculine name of possible Germanic origin meaning "brave as a lion".
Name Census estimates that about 236 living Americans carry the first name Leno. It is a predominantly male name (99.1% of registrations). The average person named Leno today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Leno births was 1921 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Leno. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
236
~ 1 in 1,452,349 Americans
Peak year
1921
29 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,038
Tracked since 1909
Gender
Gender distribution for Leno
Out of the 657 babies given the name Leno since 1880, 99.1% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Leno as a male name
- Ranked #13,385 in 2024
- 5 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1921 (29 births)
Leno as a female name
- Ranked #4,038 in 1915
- 6 female births in 1915
- Peak: 1915 (6 births)
Popularity
Leno: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Leno from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 13 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 190 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Leno by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Leno during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lenos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Pennsylvania, California, Michigan recorded the most babies named Leno, while Michigan, California, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Leno
The name Leno finds its origins in Greek and Latin roots, with a rich history dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "leontos," meaning "lion," which was a symbol of strength, courage, and nobility in classical Greek culture.
The earliest recorded use of the name Leno can be traced back to the Roman Empire, where it was a common name among aristocratic families. It was often given to male children as a way to bestow upon them the qualities associated with the lion.
In the 4th century AD, the name Leno gained religious significance with the rise of Christianity. Saint Leno, a hermit and monk from Bordeaux, France, became one of the earliest notable figures to bear the name. His piety and devotion to the Christian faith made him a revered figure in the region.
During the Middle Ages, the name Leno continued to be used across Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Leno of Verona, an Italian saint and bishop who lived in the 6th century AD. He was known for his charitable works and is the patron saint of Verona.
In the Renaissance period, the name Leno experienced a resurgence in popularity. One of the most renowned figures with this name was Leno Leni, an Italian painter and architect who lived in the 16th century. His works, including the frescoes in the Santa Maria Novella in Florence, are considered masterpieces of the Renaissance era.
Another notable figure bearing the name Leno was Leno di Nalduccio, an Italian sculptor and architect from the 14th century. He was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and palaces in Florence, including the Palazzo della Signoria.
Over the centuries, the name Leno has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, religious figures, scholars, and politicians. While its popularity may have waxed and waned in different regions, the name's rich historical roots and associations with strength, courage, and nobility have endured.
People
Leno + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Leno as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Leno: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Leno?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 236 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Leno going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,452,349 US residents.
Is Leno a common name?
We classify Leno as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 657 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Leno most popular?
The single biggest year for Leno was 1921, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Leno is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Leno a male name?
Yes, 99.1% of people registered as Leno in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.