Leon vs Raymond
Leon and Raymondcompared 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 2008, Leon was ranked #29 and Raymond #487 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Raymond #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1986, Leon was ranked #99 and Raymond #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Leon was ranked #95 and Raymond #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #100 and Raymond #545 among boys in England and Wales.
Leon and Raymond over time
Leon and Raymond appear together in 5 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Leon held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Raymond in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Raymond 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 1996, Leon moved ahead of Raymond in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #127 and #104 the year before became #86 and #127.
- Mirrored each other
Over 50 shared years in Norway · Boys, Leon rose about as far as Raymond fell — from #306 and #265 in 1945 to #29 and #487 in 2008.
- Longest-running competitions
Leon and Raymond were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 50 years, from 1945 to 2008, ending at #29 and #487.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1968–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Raymond in 27.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Raymond #29 in 1969.
The order changed in 1996: Leon moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #127 and #104; by 1996 that had become #86 and #127.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Raymond #509.
Norway · Boys50 shared years, 1945–2008
Leon held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Raymond in 38.
Highest recorded here: Leon #29 in 2008, Raymond #60 in 1978.
The order changed in 1995: Leon moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #397 and #234; by 1995 that had become #288 and #351.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Leon #29, Raymond #487.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Raymond in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Raymond #312 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #100, Raymond #545.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2023
Leon held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Raymond in 1.
Highest recorded here: Leon #91 in 2009, Raymond #143 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leon #95, Raymond #395.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1973–1986
Leon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Raymond in 11.
Highest recorded here: Leon #82 in 1982, Raymond #61 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Leon #99, Raymond #80.
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 | Raymond |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leon has a recorded origin (Greek); Raymond does not have one recorded yet.
- Leon has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Raymond.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Raymond doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Leon a "high" Data Confidence level and Raymond 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
Raymond
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #265 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1991
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys