Glen vs Leon
Glen 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Glen was ranked #307 and Leon #56 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Glen was ranked #676 and Leon #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1984, Glen was ranked #76 and Leon #96 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Glen was ranked #3688 and Leon #100 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2008, Glen was ranked #378 and Leon #110 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 1998, Glen was ranked #558 and Leon #254 among boys in Norway.
Glen and Leon over time
Glen and Leon appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Leon held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Glen 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.
Glen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 1999, Leon moved ahead of Glen in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #92 and #110 the year before became #105 and #77.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Glen and Leon changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1962 and 1998, ending at #558 and #254.
- Longest-running competitions
Glen and Leon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 53 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #676 and #73.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #129 and #124 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #378 and #110.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1969–2025
Glen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Leon in 27.
Highest recorded here: Glen #83 in 1993, Leon #44 in 2008.
The order changed in 1999: Leon moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #92 and #110; by 1999 that had become #105 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Glen #676, Leon #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Glen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leon in 29.
Highest recorded here: Glen #281 in 1996, Leon #60 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glen #3688, Leon #100.
Norway · Boys19 shared years, 1962–1998
Glen held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Leon in 12.
Highest recorded here: Glen #331 in 1982, Leon #237 in 1997.
The order changed in 1991: Leon moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #459 and #535; by 1991 that had become #613 and #451.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Glen #558, Leon #254.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2008
Glen held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Leon in 11.
Highest recorded here: Glen #129 in 1997, Leon #101 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Glen #378, Leon #110.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1973–1984
Glen held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Leon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Glen #29 in 1975, Leon #82 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Glen #76, Leon #96.
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 | Glen | 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 | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Leo |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Leon has a recorded origin (Greek); Glen does not have one recorded yet.
- Glen and Leon both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Glen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Glen 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
Glen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #92 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 recorded1963–1985
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1963–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 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