Leo vs Marcus
Leo and Marcuscompared 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, Leo was ranked #5 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #5 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #6 and Marcus #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #10 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #12 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Leo was ranked #23 and Marcus #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #28 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.
Leo and Marcus over time
Leo and Marcus appear together in 5 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Leo held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Marcus in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2002, Leo moved ahead of Marcus in England and Wales · Boys — #101 and #83 the year before became #88 and #92.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leo and Marcus changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #10 and #232.
- Mirrored each other
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Leo and Marcus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 51 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #28 and #150.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Marcus in 26.
Highest recorded here: Leo #10 in 2025, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #10, Marcus #232.
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1963–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Marcus in 39.
Highest recorded here: Leo #28 in 2025, Marcus #24 in 2001.
The order changed in 2015: Leo moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #63 and #51; by 2015 that had become #54 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #28, Marcus #150.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leo held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Marcus in 6.
Highest recorded here: Leo #5 in 2022, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order changed in 2002: Leo moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #101 and #83; by 2002 that had become #88 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leo #5, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Leo held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Marcus in 6.
Highest recorded here: Leo #6 in 2023, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order changed in 2005: Leo moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #117 and #108; by 2005 that had become #83 and #124.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leo #12, Marcus #144.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 2009–2024
Leo held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Marcus in 2.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2023, Marcus #49 in 2010.
The order changed in 2011: Leo moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #82 and #49; by 2011 that had become #65 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leo #6, Marcus #93.
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 | Leo | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Lion. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːoʊ/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #5 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leo has a recorded origin (Latin); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Leo has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Marcus.
- A meaning is recorded for Leo; Marcus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys