Leon vs Zach
Leon and Zachcompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #56 and Zach #148 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Zach #94 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #100 and Zach #509 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #125 and Zach #108 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Leon and Zach over time
Leon and Zach appear together in 3 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Leon held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Zach in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Leon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Zach 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 2011, Zach moved ahead of Leon in Northern Ireland · Boys — #70 and #73 the year before became #82 and #77.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Leon and Zach averaged 31.3 places apart, ending at #125 and #108.
- Longest-running competitions
Leon and Zach were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 32 years, from 1993 to 2025, ending at #73 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Leon #60 in 2009, Zach #167 in 2010.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 1993–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Zach in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Zach #81 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Zach #94.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Zach in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Zach #167 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #100, Zach #509.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Zach in 16.
Highest recorded here: Leon #70 in 2010, Zach #65 in 2014.
The order changed in 2011: Zach moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #70 and #73; by 2011 that had become #82 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #125, Zach #108.
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 | Zach |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #94 (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); Zach does not have one recorded yet.
- Leon and Zach both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Zach doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Leon a "high" Data Confidence level and Zach 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
Zach
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #302 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #65 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2014 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #94 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys