Leonidas
/liːˈɒnɪdəs/noun
A masculine given name of Greek origin, meaning “son of a lion” or “lion-like.”
Did you know?Leonidas comes from the same Greek lion-root behind words like “lion” itself, and in antiquity lion imagery was a symbol of royal strength, courage, and heroic death.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Λεωνίδας (Leōnídas)
“A personal name meaning “son of a lion” or “lion-like””
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lewo-
“Lion”
Late Antiquity
Greek
Λέων (Leōn)
“Lion; also used as a personal name”
Latin
Latin
Leo
“Lion; borrowed as a name and title”
Modern English
English
Leonidas
“A given name borrowed from Greek”