Leon vs Mervyn
Leon and Mervyncompared 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 2017, Leon was ranked #98 and Mervyn #3996 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1989, Leon was ranked #154 and Mervyn #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Leon and Mervyn over time
Leon and Mervyn appear together in 2 published lists, across 29 years of shared records. Leon held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Mervyn in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Mervyn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1978, Leon moved ahead of Mervyn in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #220 and #179 the year before became #140 and #205.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1968–1989
Leon held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Mervyn in 9.
Highest recorded here: Leon #123 in 1982, Mervyn #146 in 1969.
The order changed in 1978: Leon moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #220 and #179; by 1978 that had become #140 and #205.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Leon #154, Mervyn #278.
England and Wales · Boys11 shared years, 1998–2017
Leon held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Mervyn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Mervyn #1962 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Leon #98, Mervyn #3996.
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 | Mervyn |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Leo | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3996 (2017) |
| 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); Mervyn does not have one recorded yet.
- Leon has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Mervyn.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Mervyn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Leon a "high" Data Confidence level and Mervyn 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
Mervyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #85 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #85 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #3996 among boys in England and Wales, in 2017.
England and Wales · Boys