What is the name of the lion used in the MGM logo?

The lion used in the MGM logo is called Leo the Lion.

“Leo the Lion” is the studio’s long-running branding name for the animal shown roaring inside a film-strip ring. MGM adopted its first lion emblem in 1916, before the famous studio was formed in its final 1924 structure. Several different trained lions appeared in the logo over the decades, but Leo remained the established name for the mascot.

The roaring image became one of cinema’s most recognizable opening marks. The studio typically filmed a lion roaring for the camera, then placed the footage within the circular emblem containing the Latin motto “Ars Gratia Artis,” meaning “Art for Art’s Sake.”

A common misconception is that one lion performed every MGM roar. In fact, multiple lions were used, including Slats, Jackie, Tanner, George, and the lion commonly called Leo. Their appearances and recordings changed as technology and studio branding developed.