Leopoldo is a name of Latin origin, derived from the Germanic elements "leud" meaning "people" and "hard" meaning "strong, brave". The full meaning of the name Leopoldo can therefore be translated as "brave people's leader".
The name has been popular throughout history, with several notable figures bearing it. One such figure is Leopold I, who was a Holy Roman Emperor during the 17th century. He is known for his role in the Thirty Years' War and for his support of art and culture.
In literature, Leopoldo Alas, also known by his pen name "Clarin," was a Spanish novelist and critic born in the late 19th century. His works include "La Regenta," which is considered one of the greatest novels written in Spanish.
Today, Leopoldo continues to be used as a given name for boys. It is often associated with strength, leadership, and courage due to its meaning and historical figures who have borne the name. However, it is important to note that the name does not necessarily dictate an individual's personality or character traits.
The name Leopoldo experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. In its early decades, from 1896 to 1949, it had a fairly consistent but low birth rate, ranging from just 5 to a peak of 68 births per year. However, starting in 1950, there was a notable increase, with the number of annual births more than doubling by the late 1970s, reaching a peak of 92 in 1980. This high popularity continued into the early 1990s but began to decline thereafter, dropping below 60 births per year after 2005. The most recent data (2020-2023) shows a further decrease, with fewer than 40 Leopolds being born each year. In total, over the period from 1896 to 2023, there have been 5901 recorded births named Leopoldo.