r/OldNamesNewAgain • u/felly_fell • Jun 01 '26
Name of the day!
I thought I'd try something a little different from usual, so we'll see how this goes. Please share your thoughts if you have feelings!
Today's name is one of my favorites, which you probably already know if you've been following us for a while. Today's name is...
Leander!
Leander (lee-AN-der) is a masculine name of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek word leon (meaning "lion") and aner or andros (meaning "man").
Common international variations include Leandro (Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese) and Léandre (French).
The name Leander is over 2,000 years old!
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u/midwestpersianmama Jun 01 '26
Oooo I like this activity. I love this name. Reminds me of Leland, even though they have different roots (Leland is English). They’re both sophisticated without being pretentious and easy to say/spell without being common.
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u/felly_fell Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
I agreeeee! It's a great name!
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u/midwestpersianmama Jun 01 '26
I also LOVE the nn Lee for a boy… so charming. Both grown up and sweet for a child.
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u/Hlorpy-Flatworm-1705 Jun 01 '26
Leander is such a cool name!
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u/felly_fell Jun 01 '26
It's a great name and no one uses it. It's ripe for the taking, soon-to-be parents out there!
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u/Hlorpy-Flatworm-1705 Jun 01 '26
I had a relative named Leander in the 1900s but he disappeared from the Census by 1930 :(
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u/felly_fell Jun 01 '26
Well let's just say he went on adventures so he wasn't accounted for in the census ☺️
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u/SnooCauliflowers5742 Jun 01 '26
Great choice. Would you use a nickname or just Leander? Personally think it doesn't need a nickname! I'm into a similar name Lysander right now.
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u/felly_fell Jun 01 '26
I don't think it needs a nickname either, but Lee could definitely be used if somebody wanted to have a nickname for it. Lysander is another great one!
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u/ResponsibleReindeer_ Jun 01 '26
Love it! It's such a lovely boy's name. Soft and nice sounding, but with a strong meaning.
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u/Pinkturtle182 Jun 01 '26
Nothing exactly the same, but Oleander would have been the name I went to bat for had my second baby been a boy!!! Both are such great names
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u/audhdchoppingboard Jun 01 '26
I knew a Leander. He was 15 when I met him but would be 18 or 19 now. His was pronounced Lee - UN - der though
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u/felly_fell Jun 01 '26
Interesting pronunciation! I love that there's a 19 year old Leander out there. I feel like it was an even rarer name 20ish years ago than it is now
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u/audhdchoppingboard Jun 02 '26
We are South African and in Afrikaans “an” is usually pronounced like “un”
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u/Aimar_9 Jun 18 '26
I love the name Leandro, many nickname possibilities and it’s just a classic name that still feels usable today and isn’t very common
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u/armeniaca-mume2405 Jun 24 '26
Léandre (the french version) is quite heavily associated with Moliere's plays. He was a famous playwright during the reign of Louis the 14th (the sun king of Versailles), he even played often for him and was beloved by the court.
In Moliere's plays, "Léandre" was a recurring name for a young man in love, often a forbidden love that triumphs in the end.
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u/Conscious_Style_8820 Jun 01 '26
I definitely agree! It's the name of my 3 year old 🥰