Leon vs Marcus
Leon 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #46 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #55 and Marcus #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #56 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2012, Leon was ranked #98 and Marcus #93 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #100 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #125 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Leon and Marcus over time
Leon and Marcus appear together in 5 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Leon 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 4 of those lists, Leon 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 1999, Leon moved ahead of Marcus in England and Wales · Boys — #96 and #88 the year before became #87 and #93.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leon and Marcus changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #125 and #144.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Leon and Marcus averaged 56.5 places apart, ending at #125 and #144.
- Mirrored each other
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leon rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #207 and #137 in 1968 to #73 and #232 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Leon and Marcus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 56 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #46 and #150.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1968–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Marcus in 18.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order changed in 1995: Leon moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #153 and #149; by 1995 that had become #127 and #168.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Marcus #232.
Norway · Boys56 shared years, 1963–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Marcus in 34.
Highest recorded here: Leon #13 in 2014, Marcus #24 in 2001.
The order changed in 2008: Leon moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #44 and #33; by 2008 that had become #29 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #46, Marcus #150.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Marcus in 3.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order changed in 1999: Leon moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #96 and #88; by 1999 that had become #87 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #100, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Marcus in 6.
Highest recorded here: Leon #70 in 2010, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order changed in 2007: Leon moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #131 and #131; by 2007 that had become #120 and #123.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #125, Marcus #144.
New Zealand · Boys9 shared years, 1973–2012
Leon held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Marcus in 4.
Highest recorded here: Leon #82 in 1982, Marcus #78 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Leon #98, 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 | Leon | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.ɔn/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Leo | 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 | Norway · Boys #46 (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 | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leon has a recorded origin (Greek); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Leon has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Marcus.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Marcus 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 Leon a "high" Data Confidence level and Marcus a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
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