Leon vs Peter
Leon and Petercompared 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 2024, Leon was ranked #100 and Peter #286 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
Leon and Peter appear together in 5 published lists, across 194 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 Norway · Boys for 69 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #46 and #174.
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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 24 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, 2024: Leon #100, Peter #286.
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.
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 | 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| 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 #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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 #174 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys