Leonard

Leonard is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It is derived from the elements lew or leo, meaning lion, and hard, meaning brave or hardy, typically interpreted as "lion-hearted." The name was Latinized as Leonardus and has appeared in many European languages; variants include Léonard in French and Leonardo in Italian. In English, Leonard has been used since the Middle Ages and remains common in many countries today. Diminutives and nicknames include Len, Leo, Lennie, and Lenny. It is occasionally used as a surname as well.

Notable people with the given name include Leonard Bernstein, American composer and conductor; Leonard Nimoy, American actor best known for playing Spock; Leonard Cohen, Canadian singer-songwriter and poet; Leonard Woolf, English author and husband of Virginia Woolf; and Leonard Slatkin, American conductor.

In fiction, Leonard Hofstadter is a central character in the television series The Big Bang Theory. The name continues to be used across cultures and languages, maintaining its classic association with strength and dignity.