Diarmuid vs Leon
Diarmuid 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2009, Diarmuid was ranked #4527 and Leon #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Diarmuid was ranked #272 and Leon #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Diarmuid was ranked #404 and Leon #125 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Diarmuid and Leon over time
Diarmuid and Leon appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Leon held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Diarmuid in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Diarmuid reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Leon 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 2006, Leon moved ahead of Diarmuid in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #77 and #82 the year before became #91 and #73.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Diarmuid and Leon changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1968 and 2025, ending at #272 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Diarmuid and Leon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #272 and #73.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1968–2025
Diarmuid held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Leon in 27.
Highest recorded here: Diarmuid #77 in 2002, Leon #44 in 2008.
The order changed in 2006: Leon moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #77 and #82; by 2006 that had become #91 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Diarmuid #272, Leon #73.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2024
Diarmuid held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leon in 24.
Highest recorded here: Diarmuid #143 in 2003, Leon #70 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Diarmuid #404, Leon #125.
England and Wales · Boys10 shared years, 1996–2009
Diarmuid held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leon in 10.
Highest recorded here: Diarmuid #1411 in 2002, Leon #60 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Diarmuid #4527, Leon #60.
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 | Diarmuid | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈleː.ɔn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Leo |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #272 (2025) | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Leon has a recorded origin (Greek); Diarmuid does not have one recorded yet.
- Diarmuid has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Leon.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Diarmuid doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Diarmuid 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
Diarmuid
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #109 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #77 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #272 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