Danny vs Leon
Danny and Leoncompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Danny was ranked #498 and Leon #27 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Danny was ranked #234 and Leon #56 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Danny was ranked #76 and Leon #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Danny was ranked #78 and Leon #125 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Danny was ranked #514 and Leon #100 among boys in England and Wales.
Danny and Leon over time
Danny and Leon appear together in 4 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Leon held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Danny in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Leon moved ahead of Danny in England and Wales · Boys — #103 and #104 the year before became #110 and #96.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Danny and Leon changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #78 and #125.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Danny and Leon averaged 43.2 places apart, ending at #78 and #125.
- Longest-running competitions
Danny and Leon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 48 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #76 and #73.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Danny #359 in 2012, Leon #13 in 2014.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #98 and #105 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #514 and #100.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys48 shared years, 1973–2025
Danny held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Leon in 43.
Highest recorded here: Danny #41 in 2021, Leon #44 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Danny #76, Leon #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Danny held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Leon in 27.
Highest recorded here: Danny #98 in 1996, Leon #60 in 2009.
The order changed in 1998: Leon moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #103 and #104; by 1998 that had become #110 and #96.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danny #514, Leon #100.
Norway · Boys29 shared years, 1964–2017
Danny held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Leon in 28.
Highest recorded here: Danny #359 in 2012, Leon #13 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Danny #498, Leon #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Danny held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Leon in 16.
Highest recorded here: Danny #67 in 2015, Leon #70 in 2010.
The order changed in 2024: Danny moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #98 and #95; by 2024 that had become #78 and #125.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danny #78, Leon #125.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Danny | Leon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Greek λέων (leon), meaning 'lion'. Merged with the Latin cognate Leo during the Christian era, making the two forms largely interchangeable across Europe; also used among medieval English Jews. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.ɔn/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Leo |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #76 (2025) | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Leon has a recorded origin (Greek); Danny does not have one recorded yet.
- Danny has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Leon.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Danny doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Danny a "medium" Data Confidence level and Leon a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Danny
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2025
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1970–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Leon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys