Leo vs Max
Leo and Max compared 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, Leo was ranked #3 and Max #48 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #5 and Max #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Leo was ranked #5 and Max #29 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #5 and Max #29 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #10 and Max #41 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #12 and Max #30 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #28 and Max #72 among boys in Norway.
Leo and Max over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Leo and Max over time
Leo and Max appear together in 6 published lists, across 188 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Max reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 2013, Leo moved ahead of Max in England and Wales · Boys — #20 and #18 the year before became #17 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leo and Max changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #12 and #30.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Leo and Max averaged 41.1 places apart, ending at #3 and #48.
- Longest-running competitions
Leo and Max were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #48.
List by list
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1953–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Max in 19.
Highest recorded here: Leo #28 in 2025, Max #60 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #28, Max #72.
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1973–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Max in 17.
Highest recorded here: Leo #10 in 2025, Max #27 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #10, Max #41.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Max in 17.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2025, Max #18 in 2012.
The order changed in 2013: Leo moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #20 and #18; by 2013 that had become #17 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #3, Max #48.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Leo held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Max in 17.
Highest recorded here: Leo #6 in 2023, Max #22 in 2015.
The order changed in 2016: Leo moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #28 and #22; by 2016 that had become #12 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leo #12, Max #30.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 2003–2023
Leo held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Max in 13.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2019, Max #10 in 2016.
The order changed in 2016: Leo moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #24 and #13; by 2016 that had become #9 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leo #5, Max #29.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 2009–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Max in 7.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2022, Max #13 in 2014.
The order changed in 2016: Leo moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #25 and #23; by 2016 that had become #10 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #5, Max #30.
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 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 comparisons involving Max
Pairs where Max shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Scott vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #845 and #48.
Scott · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #48.
Stephen · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Richard vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #48.
Richard · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Morten vs Max
Over 62 shared years in Norway · Boys, Max rose about as far as Morten fell — from #92 and #359 in 1946 to #214 and #72 in 2025.
Morten · Max · 62 shared years, 1946–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
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 | Leo | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Lion. | A short form of Maximilian or Maxim, ultimately from Latin 'maximus' (greatest). |
| Origin | Latin | Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːoʊ/ | /ˈmæks/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #30 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leo is recorded with a Latin origin, while Max is recorded with a Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim origin.
- Leo and Max both have 1 syllable.
- Leo's recorded meaning differs from Max's — see the table above for each.
- 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 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
Max
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #359 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2023
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 2016 (recorded 1992–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #48 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys