Leon vs Richard
Leon and Richard 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 Richard #18 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Leon was ranked #33 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #56 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #101 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Leon was ranked #177 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Leon and Richard 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 Richard over time
Leon and Richard appear together in 5 published lists, across 189 years of shared records. Richard held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Leon in 2.
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.
Richard 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 1999, Leon moved ahead of Richard in England and Wales · Boys — #96 and #82 the year before became #87 and #97.
- Mirrored each other
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Boys, Leon rose about as far as Richard fell — from #306 and #219 in 1945 to #33 and #481 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Leon and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #101 and #431.
List by list
Norway · Boys67 shared years, 1945–2023
Leon held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Richard in 42.
Highest recorded here: Leon #13 in 2014, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 1999: Leon moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #254 and #191; by 1999 that had become #190 and #201.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leon #33, Richard #481.
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1968–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Richard in 31.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order changed in 2000: Leon moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #77 and #63; by 2000 that had become #77 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Richard #232.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Richard in 3.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Leon moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #96 and #82; by 1999 that had become #87 and #97.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #101, Richard #431.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Leon held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Richard in 5.
Highest recorded here: Leon #70 in 2010, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order changed in 2004: Leon moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #137 and #137; by 2004 that had become #125 and #210.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Leon #177, Richard #311.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1973–1986
Leon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 11.
Highest recorded here: Leon #82 in 1982, Richard #9 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Leon #99, Richard #18.
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 Richard
Pairs where Richard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Richard vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #2014.
Richard · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Henry vs Richard
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #431.
Henry · Richard · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Richard vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #48.
Richard · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Dylan vs Richard
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #72 and #431.
Dylan · Richard · 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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Greek | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.ɔn/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| 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 #232 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leon is recorded with a Greek origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Leon has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Richard.
- Leon's recorded meaning differs from Richard'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 Richard 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
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys