Leo

Leo derives from the Latin word for lion, leo, which itself traces back to Greek leōn, ultimately borrowed from a Semitic source related to Hebrew lavi. The name was borne by thirteen popes, most notably Leo I (the Great) in the fifth century, lending it strong ecclesiastical prestige throughout medieval Europe. It appears across numerous European traditions, with French Léo, Hungarian and Icelandic Leó, and Portuguese Léo as accented variants, and it serves as a short form of names such as Leon, Leonard, and Leopold.