Leonie is a Latin-origin feminine given name, (meaning "lioness"), from the masculine personal name Leon (meaning "lion"). Leonie evolved to Léonie in France. It is rare as a surname.
The name Leoni/Leonie also derives from the Greek name Leonidas. It is commonly used in Greece, but with a different pronunciation than in English.
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity there are several saints named Saint/Agios Leonidas. Therefore, a child born into orthodoxy would have their name day (religious celebration m. See: name day) People with the name or its variants would celebrate on the day the Saint was killed.
People with the name or its variants include:
Léonie Abo (born 1945), Bambunda authorLéonie Adams (1899–1988), American poetLeonie Archer, British academicLeonie Bennett (born 1993), Dutch cricketerLeonie Brinkema (born 1944), American judgeLéonie Duquet (1916–1977), French nunLeonie Frieda (born 1956), Swedish-born former model, translator, and writerLéonie Gilmour (1872–1933), American educator, editor, and journalistLeonie Joubert, freelance science writerLeonie Krail (born 1986), Swiss ice dancerLeonie Kramer (1924-2016), Australian academic, educator and professorMyriam Léonie Mani (born 1977), Cameroonian runnerLeonie Maier (born 1992), German footballerMarie Léonie Martin (1863–1941), sister of Therese of LisieuxLeonie Rysanek (1926–1998), Austrian dramatic sopranoLeonie Saint (born 1986), German pornographic actressLeonie Sandercock (born 1949), Australian academicLeonie Schaller (born 1978), German saxophonistLeonie Short (born 1956), Australian politicianLeonie Swann (born 1975), nom de plume of a German crime writerLeonie Wood (born 1961), Australian journalist