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    The first name Lionel

    A boy’s name from Latin meaning “lion”.

    Pronounced /ˈlaɪənl/ 3 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Latin origin

    Lionel means “lion” in Latin.

    A Middle English diminutive of French Léon, Latin Leo (“lion”), or of the Middle English nickname Lion + -el (diminutive suffix).

    More names that mean lion.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 24 boys were named Lionel, making it the 1,197th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 38 births (#847).

    02040 1996200020052010201520202025
    412
    babies named Lionel, 1996–2025
    #1,197
    rank in 2025
    2024
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lionel with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Lionel at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 419 boys born in the United States were named Lionel, the 659th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2023, when 609 were.

    0350700 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    33,833
    babies named Lionel since 1880
    #659
    rank in 2025
    2023
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Lionel in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    ლაიონელ
    laionel
    Georgian
    लायनल
    lāynal
    Hindi
    Lionello
    Italian
    Leonel
    Portuguese
    Лионель
    Lionelʹ
    Russian

    Spelled Lionel in French and Romanian too.

    Famous people named Lionel

    98 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Lionel Messi
      Argentine association football player (born 1987)
    • Lionel Richie
      American singer, songwriter and actor, born 1949
    • Lionel Jospin
      93rd Prime Minister of France (1997–2002)
    • Lionel Barrymore
      American actor, director and screenwriter (1878–1954)
    • Lionel Scaloni
      Argentine football coach (born 1978)
    • Lionel Hampton
      American jazz musician (1908–2002)
    • Lionel Robbins, Baron Robbins
      British economist (1898–1984)
    • Lionel Charbonnier
      French football manager (born 1966)
    • Lionel Logue
      Australian speech and language pathologist; speech therapist (1880-1953)
    • Lionel Stander
      American actor in films, radio, theater and television (1908-1994)
    • Lionel Kieseritzky
      Baltic German chess player (1806-1853)
    • Lionel Jeffries
      English actor, screenwriter and film director (1926–2010)

    More Latin boys’ names

    All 381 names of Latin origin

    Questions

    What does the name Lionel mean?
    Lionel means “lion” in Latin.
    What is the origin of the name Lionel?
    A Middle English diminutive of French Léon, Latin Leo (“lion”), or of the Middle English nickname Lion + -el (diminutive suffix).
    How popular is the name Lionel?
    In 2025, 24 boys born in England and Wales were named Lionel, ranking 1,197th. Its peak was 2024, with 38 births.
    Is Lionel a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 33,833 US babies named Lionel since 1880 were boys.
    When was Lionel most popular?
    2023 in the United States, when 609 babies were named Lionel, its highest rank at 495th.
    How do you pronounce Lionel?
    Lionel is /ˈlaɪənl/, 3 syllables.