Message: "Leonidas" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Leonidas

by telfalathiel

6/27/2009, 9:08 PM

I've just finished reading The Phantom of the Opera. I have always loved the 2004 film with Gerard Butler, and just recently watched the 1925 film with Lon Chaney. I admire Chaney's performances in his films. I only just discovered that Lon is a nn for Leonidas. Leonidas has been on my list for a few years, but has been slowly slipping. With this new connection to Lon Chaney, I think it might be rising in favor with me again. Probably only as a mn though. WDYTO Leonidas?

#Leonidas

Replies

- BBH

6/28/2009, 11:31 AM

I think the name is frivolous and fanciful. The short forms are all right, but the long form just says "overzealous" to me, and it also seems feminine.

- queenv +1

6/28/2009, 10:03 AM

It's my seventeen-month-old grandson's name. His nickname is Leo. When I first heard the name, I admit that it struck me as very strange. But I also admit that I'd NEVER heard it before, so no wonder it struck me strange! So you see, I'm not THAT much of a name-nerd, if I'd never heard Leonidas before. Maybe I'm just prejudiced, since it IS my grandson's name, but it has really grown on me, and now I find it both beautiful and masculine (which is hard to find), not popular yet accessible. So I like it.

- telfalathiel

6/28/2009, 10:58 AM

It is awesome to see that this name is rising in popularity (though a part of me kinda wishes is wasn't in a way). I definitely like the nn Leo better than Lon. It's a bit late, but congrats on the birth of your grandson! Awesome name! :)

- Anthroponomastics +1

6/28/2009, 6:27 AM

The Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite movies (the Gerard Butler version...the first time I watched it my friend kept pausing the movie so we could scream how hot he was in different scenes).
I love Leonidas. I go to a school where the Spartan is our mascot, so I naturally like it. I also like Spartacus, which I think goes really nicely with Leonidas in a twin set. Anyway, Leonidas showed up on the popularity charts in 2008 for the first time in 100 years!

- telfalathiel

6/28/2009, 10:55 AM

Yay!

I confess, I haven't had time to scroll through the entire popularity chart yet. I'm glad it's there. :)

- Fauna (primrose)

6/27/2009, 11:37 PM

I'm not to fond of the name Leonidas. It just doesn't sound right to my ears, too harsh or almost like the parents were trying too hard.

- Wordsmith

6/27/2009, 11:19 PM

I really like Leonidas.

- Dracotorix

6/27/2009, 10:21 PM

I like it; it has a lot of associations that I like and it sounds and looks good too. I would use it as a mn. I prefer Leo to Lon for a nn though.

- georden

6/27/2009, 9:20 PM

I like it. All things about it. I like it as a first name if DH would approve.

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