I like them both but they are definitely different. I know two Julians (one 4yo, one 7yo) and two Leos (one 4yo, one 2yo) in our neighborhood.

Leo

Signed,
Julian's mom

Anonymous wrote:My son's name is Julian and I love his name. It's common enough that everyone recognizes it, but we've never had any other Julians in any of his classes. It's classic (not an Aiden) but not super popular (like a Michael). It works for a baby, a kid, and an adult. It has nicknames (Jay, J, J + middle name initial, Jude). Anyway, obviously I'm partial to Julian.

+ 1. My son is also named Julian and I feel so the same way about the name.

Regarding the posters who think "Julian" will be teased in elementary school for having an "effeminate" name--let me offer a dose of reality. My son Julian is in middle school and has never had any issues with anyone teasing him because of his name or calling him "Julia" or saying he has a "girl" nmae. And I work at an elementary school as an administrator. I've met small number of Julians and they never had this issue either.

I like them both, though agree Leo does sounds tougher than Julian. If you go with Leo, do NOT name him Leonard. Yuck.

I love the name Leo, and hate the name Julian.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is Leo. I think it's a great name, but be warned-it is getting very popular, if that matters to you. There are 4 in our daycare alone.

I wonder why it got on everyone's radars. Was it a name in a movie or something?

DC1 is 3 y.o. and has 3 Leos in her preschool. DC2 is 1 y.o. and has 2 Leos in his daycare, including one in his class. And this past weekend we ran into a friend we hadn't seen in years and she has a Leo. So we know 6 Leos between 6 months and almost 3 years all in DC.

OP here. Yikes, that is a lot of Leos. It gives me pause about using the name. I don't mind a sort-of popular name but don't want him to be one of many in his class.

Thanks for everyone's comments! They help a lot.

I wouldn't worry too much about Leo's popularity--sounds like some people are running into particular pockets where Leo is especially used.

For 2011:

Leo: #53 in DC, not in top 100 in MD, not in top 100 in VA, #167 nationally

Julian: #50 in DC, #76 in MD, #77 in VA, #49 nationally

I can only imagine the Spanish pronunciations. Lay-o and Who-liahn. They're nice.

I like both

I love Julian - it's my top boy's name. I know 4 or 5 people that have named their babies Leo in the last 2 years. I don't know any Julians.

Julian! Love that nname.

Leo

I know 3 Julians and 1 Leo, they are both on the trendy side.

To the PP that asked, don't you think Leo McGarry is to blame?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is Leo. I think it's a great name, but be warned-it is getting very popular, if that matters to you. There are 4 in our daycare alone.

I wonder why it got on everyone's radars. Was it a name in a movie or something?

DC1 is 3 y.o. and has 3 Leos in her preschool. DC2 is 1 y.o. and has 2 Leos in his daycare, including one in his class. And this past weekend we ran into a friend we hadn't seen in years and she has a Leo. So we know 6 Leos between 6 months and almost 3 years all in DC.

OP here. Yikes, that is a lot of Leos. It gives me pause about using the name. I don't mind a sort-of popular name but don't want him to be one of many in his class.

Thanks for everyone's comments! They help a lot.

Anonymous wrote:My DS is Leo. I think it's a great name, but be warned-it is getting very popular, if that matters to you. There are 4 in our daycare alone.

I wonder why it got on everyone's radars. Was it a name in a movie or something?

DC1 is 3 y.o. and has 3 Leos in her preschool. DC2 is 1 y.o. and has 2 Leos in his daycare, including one in his class. And this past weekend we ran into a friend we hadn't seen in years and she has a Leo. So we know 6 Leos between 6 months and almost 3 years all in DC.