# Leonard

/ˈɫɛnɝd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/leonard
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man or a boy.

For teachers: a masculine given name, frequently appearing in English-speaking cultures and often abbreviated to Leo, Len, or Lenny.

- My grandfather's name was Leonard, but everyone called him Leo.
- Leonard Cohen was a highly influential Canadian singer-songwriter and poet whose career spanned several decades.

### 2. a family name

noun · CEFR A1

a common last name or family name.

For teachers: a surname of either Germanic or Irish origin, often transferred from the given name.

- The new teacher's name is Mr. Leonard.
- Sugar Ray Leonard is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time, winning world titles in five weight divisions.

## Examples

- My grandfather's name is Leonard.
- The professor introduced himself as Leonard, though most students addressed him as Dr. Miller.
- While the name Leonard has seen a decline in popularity since the mid-twentieth century, it remains a classic choice in many English-speaking countries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.