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 author
Léonie Adams (1899–1988), American poet
Leonie Archer, British academic
Leonie Bennett (born 1993), Dutch cricketer
Leonie Brinkema (born 1944), American judge
Léonie Duquet (1916–1977), French nun
Leonie Frieda (born 1956), Swedish-born former model, translator, and writer
Léonie Gilmour (1872–1933), American educator, editor, and journalist
Leonie Joubert, freelance science writer
Leonie Krail (born 1986), Swiss ice dancer
Leonie Kramer (1924-2016), Australian academic, educator and professor
Myriam Léonie Mani (born 1977), Cameroonian runner
Leonie Maier (born 1992), German footballer
Marie Léonie Martin (1863–1941), sister of Therese of Lisieux
Leonie Rysanek (1926–1998), Austrian dramatic soprano
Leonie Saint (born 1986), German pornographic actress
Leonie Sandercock (born 1949), Australian academic
Leonie Schaller (born 1978), German saxophonist
Leonie Short (born 1956), Australian politician
Leonie Swann (born 1975), nom de plume of a German crime writer
Leonie Wood (born 1961), Australian journalist
