Denis vs Leo
Denis and Leocompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #434 and Leo #5 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Denis was ranked #232 and Leo #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #305 and Leo #12 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #423 and Leo #33 among boys in Norway.
Denis and Leo over time
Denis and Leo appear together in 4 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Leo held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Denis in 1.
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.
Denis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Leo in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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 2004, Leo moved ahead of Denis in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #117 and #123 the year before became #129 and #104.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Denis and Leo changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1972 and 2024, ending at #423 and #33.
- Longest-running competitions
Denis and Leo were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 48 years, from 1972 to 2024, ending at #423 and #33.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Denis #262 in 2020, Leo #5 in 2022.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Denis held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Leo in 22.
Highest recorded here: Denis #21 in 1964, Leo #10 in 2025.
The order changed in 2004: Leo moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #117 and #123; by 2004 that had become #129 and #104.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Denis #232, Leo #10.
Norway · Boys48 shared years, 1972–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Leo in 35.
Highest recorded here: Denis #249 in 1984, Leo #33 in 2024.
The order changed in 1992: Leo moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #350 and #419; by 1992 that had become #538 and #379.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #423, Leo #33.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leo in 29.
Highest recorded here: Denis #262 in 2020, Leo #5 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #434, Leo #5.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1998–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leo in 17.
Highest recorded here: Denis #231 in 2011, Leo #6 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #305, Leo #12.
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 | Denis | Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Lion. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈliːoʊ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #5 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Leo has a recorded origin (Latin); Denis does not have one recorded yet.
- Denis has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Leo.
- A meaning is recorded for Leo; Denis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Denis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #65 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Leo
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2009–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2009–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys