Emil vs Leonard
Emil and Leonardcompared 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 2025, Emil was ranked #2 and Leonard #173 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Emil was ranked #737 and Leonard #244 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Emil was ranked #468 and Leonard #272 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Emil was ranked #619 and Leonard #352 among boys in Scotland.
Emil and Leonard over time
Emil and Leonard appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Leonard held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Emil in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Emil reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Leonard 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emil and Leonard changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 2006 and 2025, ending at #468 and #272.
- Longest-running competitions
Emil and Leonard were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 43 years, from 1954 to 2025, ending at #2 and #173.
List by list
Norway · Boys43 shared years, 1954–2025
Emil held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Leonard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emil #1 in 2008, Leonard #144 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emil #2, Leonard #173.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emil held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leonard in 29.
Highest recorded here: Emil #506 in 2015, Leonard #217 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emil #737, Leonard #244.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2006–2025
Emil held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Leonard in 12.
Highest recorded here: Emil #310 in 2012, Leonard #272 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emil #468, Leonard #272.
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 | Emil | Leonard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Roman family name Aemilius, itself from Latin 'aemulus' meaning 'rival'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, widely used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German and other European traditions | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeː.mɪl/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #2 (2025) | Norway · Boys #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emil has a recorded origin (Latin, widely used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German and other European traditions); Leonard does not have one recorded yet.
- Emil and Leonard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emil; Leonard doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Emil
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #271 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: #1 among boys in Norway, in 2008 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Leonard
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #73 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 recorded1952–1961
Highest recorded position: #73 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1961).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #173 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys