Leon vs Peter
Leon and Peter 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1986, Leon was ranked #99 and Peter #30 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #46 and Peter #174 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #56 and Peter #181 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Peter #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #101 and Peter #287 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #125 and Peter #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Leon and Peter 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.
Leon and Peter over time
Leon and Peter appear together in 5 published lists, across 195 years of shared records. Peter held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Leon 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.
Peter 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 2001, Leon moved ahead of Peter in England and Wales · Boys — #80 and #79 the year before became #74 and #86.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leon and Peter changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #125 and #164.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Leon and Peter averaged 48.7 places apart, ending at #125 and #164.
- Mirrored each other
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Boys, Leon rose about as far as Peter fell — from #306 and #106 in 1945 to #46 and #174 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Leon and Peter were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #101 and #287.
List by list
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1945–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Peter in 46.
Highest recorded here: Leon #13 in 2014, Peter #72 in 1987.
The order changed in 2003: Leon moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #148 and #110; by 2003 that had become #112 and #166.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #46, Peter #174.
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1968–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Peter in 39.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Peter #15 in 1968.
The order changed in 2008: Leon moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #75 and #65; by 2008 that had become #44 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Peter #152.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Peter in 5.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Peter #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2001: Leon moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #80 and #79; by 2001 that had become #74 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #101, Peter #287.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Peter in 18.
Highest recorded here: Leon #70 in 2010, Peter #22 in 1998.
The order changed in 2023: Leon moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #177 and #177; by 2023 that had become #95 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #125, Peter #164.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1973–1986
Leon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 11.
Highest recorded here: Leon #82 in 1982, Peter #20 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Leon #99, Peter #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 Leon
Pairs where Leon shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Tom vs Leon
In 1996 they stood at #102 and #105 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #976 and #101.
Tom · Leon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leon vs Erik
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Boys, Leon rose about as far as Erik fell — from #306 and #27 in 1945 to #46 and #64 in 2025.
Leon · Erik · 69 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Morten vs Leon
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Boys, Leon rose about as far as Morten fell — from #107 and #306 in 1945 to #214 and #46 in 2025.
Morten · Leon · 69 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Leon vs Nils
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Boys, Leon rose about as far as Nils fell — from #306 and #26 in 1945 to #46 and #61 in 2025.
Leon · Nils · 69 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Peter
Pairs where Peter shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Peter vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #59 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #287 and #2014.
Peter · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Peter vs Stephen
In 1996 they stood at #59 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #287 and #716.
Peter · Stephen · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Peter vs Frode
In 1945 they stood at #106 and #116 in Norway · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2008 they were #127 and #551.
Peter · Frode · 63 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Peter vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #59 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #287 and #615.
Peter · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.
- Nora vs Heidi
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Girls, Nora rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #219 and #188 in 1945 to #3 and #437 in 2025.
Nora · Heidi · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Morten
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Morten fell — from #141 and #107 in 1945 to #16 and #214 in 2025.
Henrik · Morten · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Nils
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Nils fell — from #141 and #26 in 1945 to #16 and #61 in 2025.
Henrik · Nils · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Henrik
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #141 in 1945 to #174 and #16 in 2025.
Peter · Henrik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
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 | Leon | Peter |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. |
| Origin | Greek | Greek/Aramaic, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.ɔn/ | /ˈpit.əɹ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Leo | 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 | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leon is recorded with a Greek origin, while Peter is recorded with a Greek/Aramaic, biblical origin.
- Leon has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Peter.
- Leon's recorded meaning differs from Peter's — see the table above for each.
- 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 Peter 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 #101 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Peter
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #106 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2006
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2006).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #287 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys