NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Lio

A short form derived from names like Lionello or Lionel.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Lio is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Lio popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1595, with 16 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 16 births.

This profile covers 105 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Lio is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 112 living people in the UK are called Lio. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lio ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 16 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 16 boys were registered as Lio.
  • Lio ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #533 in 2021.
  • About 112 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lio as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 96.3% of Lio registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1595

2024

Births in 2024

16

Latest year

Peak year

2024

16 births

Estimated living

112

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Lio

In England and Wales birth records, Lio has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 96.3% of registrations are for boys and 3.7% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

96% boys
Boys105 (96.3%)Girls4 (3.7%)

Lio registered for boys

  • Ranked #1,595 in 2024
  • 16 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (16 births)

Lio registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,709 in 2023
  • 4 girls registered in 2023
  • Peak: 2023 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Lio mean?

The name Lio has its origins in the Latin language and can be traced back to ancient Roman times. It is derived from the Latin word "leo," which means "lion." The name was likely given to children born under the astrological sign of Leo or those who displayed lion-like qualities such as courage and strength.

In ancient Roman mythology, the lion was a symbol of power and was often associated with the gods and goddesses. The name Lio may have been used to honor these deities or to invoke their protection for the child bearing the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lio can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned a Roman soldier named Lio Flavius in his work "Annals" from the 1st century AD.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lio. One such person was Lio Petrus, a 4th-century Christian martyr who was executed for his faith during the Diocletian persecution. Another was Lio Battista Alberti, an Italian Renaissance humanist, author, artist, architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher, and cryptographer, who lived from 1404 to 1472.

In the 16th century, Lio Pardo was a Spanish painter known for his religious works, while in the 18th century, Lio Michelangelo Gualandi was an Italian painter and engraver. More recently, Lio Conventi was an Italian footballer who played as a defender for several clubs in the 1960s and 1970s.

While the name Lio may not be as common in modern times, its rich history and connection to the powerful symbolism of the lion make it a unique and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name steeped in ancient tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lio over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Lio in England and Wales, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lio, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 16 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0491317200420142024

Decades

Lio by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lio was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1822 65 5
2010s #2908 37 5
2000s #3651 3 1

Geography

Where Lio is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Lio. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Lio ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #533 in 2021.

Scotland
5

Across the UK

Lio in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#533 in 2021

2 years of NRS records, 8 total registered

Related

Names similar to Lio

FAQ

Lio: questions and answers

How popular is the name Lio in the UK right now?

In 2024, Lio was ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales, with 16 births registered.

When was Lio most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 16 babies registered as Lio in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lio?

A short form derived from names like Lionello or Lionel.

How many people are called Lio in the UK?

A total of 105 babies have been registered as Lio across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 8 more in Scotland.

Where is Lio most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Lio ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #533 in 2021. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.