Leander

Leander comes from the Greek Leandros, combining elements for “lion” and “man.” Both elements are Greek in this name; it is not a construction from Latin leo and a Latin word andros. The lion meaning supplies an animal association without making bravery or strength part of the literal translation.

In Greek legend, Leander swims across the Hellespont to visit Hero, with a tragic ending to their story. That narrative gives the name a longstanding literary identity beyond its components. Leandro and Léandre are related forms in other languages, while Leandros preserves the Greek ending. Leander itself has established English-language use, making it both a classical name and a historical given-name choice.