Leonard

For other uses, see Leonard (disambiguation).

Leonard or Leo is a common English language masculine given name and a surname.

The given name and surname originate from the Old High German Leonhard containing the prefix levon ("lion") and the suffix hardu ("brave" or "hardy"). The name has come to mean "lion strength", "lion-strong", or "lion-hearted". It may also be from the Latin Leo ("lion"). Leonard was the name of a Saint in the Middle Ages period, known as the patron saint of prisoners.[1]

Leonard is also an Irish origin surname, from the Gaelic O'Leannain, consisting of the prefix O ("descendant of") and the suffix Leannan ("lover"). The oldest public records of the surname appear in 1272 in Huntingdonshire, England, and in 1479 in Ulm, Germany.[2]

Variations

The name has variants in other languages:[2]

In other languages

People with the name or its variants include:

Given name

Leonard
Pronunciation /ˈlɛnərd/ LEN-ərd
Gender Masculine
Origin
Meaning "lion strength"
Region of origin England

Surname

Leonard
Family name
Meaning "lion,strong"; "lion-hearted"
Region of origin Old High German; Gaelic

Film, radio, television

Literature

Military

Music

Politics

Sports

Other fields

Fictional characters

References

  1. "Leonard - name meaning and origin". thinkbabynames.com. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  2. 1 2 "Surname: Leonard". surnamedb.com. Retrieved 2008-03-24.

See also

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