Leonardo

Commonly explained as ‘lion’ plus ‘brave/hardy’ through older Germanic name elements.

Leonardo is a classic male given name used in Italian and widely recognized internationally. It is familiar both as an Italian-language name and as a name that travels well across cultures, helped by famous historical and artistic associations that keep it recognizable in many places. Etymologically, Leonardo is typically described as an Italian form in a Germanic name family. Standard explanations break it into older elements often glossed as “lion” and “brave/hardy,” which is why meaning summaries frequently mention courage or strength alongside the lion image. Because these analyses come from historical name-element scholarship, you will sometimes see small differences in wording, but the “lion + brave” frame is the common core. Pronunciation in English is often lee-uh-NAR-doh, with clear syllable breaks and stress on NAR. A practical tip is that it’s very nickname-friendly (Leo), and in Italian or Spanish contexts you may hear a slightly different vowel quality while keeping the same overall rhythm.

Etymology: Leonardo is an Italian form built on a Germanic name family often analyzed as elements meaning ‘lion’ and ‘brave/hardy’.