Leonard at rank 1368 is a deeply human name landing on a dog, and that gap is the whole point. It's part of the same movement that produces pet Harolds and pet Walters: full-given-name names chosen for their formal dignity and comic incongruity on an animal that cannot understand its own name.
The Full-Formal-Name Trend
Giving pets unabridged human names is a distinct contemporary aesthetic. It implies a household where the pet is treated as a person with full social standing, and the name is deadpan comedy executed through paperwork. Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds carry Leonard with particular authority. The droopy gravitas of those breeds matches the name's weight perfectly.
The Name Itself
Leonard is Old High German, from Leonhard meaning lion-heart. It's been a sturdy name across European history, carried by saints, scientists (Leonard Euler), and musicians (Leonard Cohen). The human trajectory is documented at /names/leonard. Leo is the obvious shorthand when the full name feels too formal for a Tuesday.
The Counter-Reading
Leonard's comedy value depends on delivery. Owners who love the full-formal-name aesthetic will own this choice with confidence; owners who feel awkward at the dog park might find Leo more livable day-to-day.