leon

Leon is a given name and, less commonly, a surname. It derives from the Latin name Leo, which itself comes from the Greek word leon meaning lion. The form appears across languages and cultures, with the accented variants Léon (French) and León (Spanish) reflecting pronunciation differences. In English, the unaccented form Leon is common; the diminutive Leo is frequently used as a nickname or standalone given name.

As a given name, Leon has been used since medieval times and remains common in many parts of the world, often shortened to Leo. Notable individuals include Leon Trotsky (1879–1940), a Russian revolutionary; Leon Panetta (born 1937), an American politician and administrator; and Leon Russell (1942–2016), an American musician and songwriter. The name appears in various alphabets and may be used for both historical and contemporary figures across politics, science, and the arts.

As a place name, Léon / León denotes several locations in the Spanish-speaking world: León, a historic city and capital of the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain; León, Nicaragua, the capital of the León Department; and León, Guanajuato, a major city in central Mexico. The toponym is common in Latin America due to Spanish colonial naming.