Elijah vs Leo
Elijah 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 2025, Elijah was ranked #23 and Leo #3 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Elijah was ranked #7 and Leo #5 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Elijah was ranked #13 and Leo #5 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Elijah was ranked #76 and Leo #5 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Elijah was ranked #97 and Leo #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Elijah was ranked #57 and Leo #12 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Elijah and Leo over time
Elijah and Leo appear together in 5 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Leo held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Elijah in 0.
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.
Leo reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Elijah in 1. 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 2016, Leo moved ahead of Elijah in New Zealand · Boys — #23 and #24 the year before became #27 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elijah and Leo changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 2003 and 2023, ending at #13 and #5.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Elijah and Leo averaged 10.1 places apart, ending at #13 and #5.
- Longest-running competitions
Elijah and Leo were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #23 and #3.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Elijah #23 in 2024, Leo #3 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elijah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leo in 30.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #23 in 2024, Leo #3 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elijah #23, Leo #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 2000–2025
Elijah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leo in 26.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #97 in 2025, Leo #10 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elijah #97, Leo #10.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 2003–2023
Elijah held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Leo in 13.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #11 in 2020, Leo #3 in 2019.
The order changed in 2016: Leo moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #23 and #24; by 2016 that had become #27 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Elijah #13, Leo #5.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1999–2024
Elijah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leo in 21.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #52 in 2023, Leo #6 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elijah #57, Leo #12.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 2009–2025
Elijah held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Leo in 12.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #7 in 2025, Leo #3 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elijah #7, Leo #5.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Elijah
Pairs where Elijah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elijah vs Archie
Elijah and Archie both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elijah · Archie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Elijah vs Hugo
Elijah and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elijah · Hugo · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Noah vs Elijah
Noah and Elijah both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Noah · Elijah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Elijah
Oliver and Elijah both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Elijah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Leo
Pairs where Leo shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Leo vs Keith
In 1964 they stood at #101 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #10 and #577.
Leo · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leo vs Jonathan
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #101 and #125 in 1964 to #10 and #223 in 2025.
Leo · Jonathan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Leo vs Marcus
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #101 and #136 in 1964 to #10 and #232 in 2025.
Leo · Marcus · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Leo vs Shane
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Shane fell — from #101 and #75 in 1964 to #10 and #152 in 2025.
Leo · Shane · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Elijah | Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally rendered as 'my God is Yahweh', reflecting a common theophoric naming pattern in Hebrew. | Lion. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ɪˈlaɪdʒə/ | /ˈliːoʊ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #7 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elijah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Leo is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Elijah has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Leo.
- Elijah's recorded meaning differs from Leo's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Elijah
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #312 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2003–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2003–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls