Leonard is a name of Germanic origin, derived from the elements "lewo" meaning "lion" and "hard" meaning "strong, brave". The name means "brave lion".
The name Leonard has been used for centuries, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the Middle Ages in England. It was not particularly common at that time, but it was used occasionally.
In the 16th century, Leonard became more popular in England and other parts of Europe due to the influence of Italian Renaissance humanists who were interested in classical Latin literature. They liked to use names from Roman history and mythology, such as Leonard, which they saw as a form of the Latin name Aenobarbus.
In English-speaking countries today, Leonard is still considered a classic name with a timeless appeal. It has been used consistently throughout the centuries and continues to be chosen for babies today. Some famous bearers of the name include American actors Leonard Nimoy and Leonard DiCaprio, as well as Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw.
The given statistics show the annual birth rate of the name Leonard in the United States from 1914 to 1973. Over this period, there were a total of 383 babies named Leonard.
The popularity of the name Leonard varied greatly throughout these years. In some years, such as 1925 and 1926, there were more than 14 births each year. However, in other years like 1930, 1953, and 1964, there were only 6 births each year.
Overall, the name Leonard was most popular between the 1920s to early 1930s, with a peak of 17 births in 1934. After this period, its popularity gradually declined until the late 1950s and early 1960s when it began to rise again slightly.
These statistics provide insights into the trends of naming babies Leonard over several decades in the United States, but they do not reflect the current popularity of this name or its overall usage worldwide.