Leon vs Tom
Leon and Tomcompared 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 2025, Leon was ranked #46 and Tom #388 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Tom #48 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #56 and Tom #352 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #125 and Tom #60 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #100 and Tom #757 among boys in England and Wales.
Leon and Tom over time
Leon and Tom appear together in 4 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2000, Leon moved ahead of Tom in England and Wales · Boys — #87 and #85 the year before became #80 and #83.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leon and Tom changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1980 and 2025, ending at #73 and #48.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Leon and Tom averaged 39.9 places apart, ending at #125 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Leon and Tom were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 69 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #46 and #388.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #105 and #102 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #100 and #757.
List by list
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1945–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tom in 44.
Highest recorded here: Leon #13 in 2014, Tom #12 in 1960.
The order changed in 2002: Leon moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #154 and #131; by 2002 that had become #148 and #162.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #46, Tom #388.
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1980–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tom in 17.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Tom #32 in 2018.
The order changed in 2013: Tom moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #54 and #58; by 2013 that had become #56 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Tom #48.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Tom in 3.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Tom #83 in 2000.
The order changed in 2000: Leon moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #87 and #85; by 2000 that had become #80 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #100, Tom #757.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Tom in 25.
Highest recorded here: Leon #70 in 2010, Tom #42 in 2016.
The order changed in 2011: Tom moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #70 and #95; by 2011 that had become #82 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #125, Tom #60.
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 | Tom |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Leo | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #48 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leon has a recorded origin (Greek); Tom does not have one recorded yet.
- Leon and Tom both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Tom doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Leon a "high" Data Confidence level and Tom 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
Tom
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #50 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: #12 among boys in Norway, in 1960 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #388 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys