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At a Glance: Name: Lionel – Meaning: little lion – Origin: French/Latin – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: LY-uh-nel
Lionel is a French and Latin name meaning "little lion," pronounced LY-uh-nel. It has a classic, vintage feel — the kind of name that has quietly stuck around for generations rather than showing up overnight.
Meaning & Origin of Lionel
Meaning: Little lion.
Origin: French/Latin.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Lionel
Phonetic: LY-uh-nel IPA: /ˈlaɪənəl/
Popularity of Lionel
Lionel hit its high point back in 1933, ranking #295 with 321 baby boys given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled to #561, with 528 boys named Lionel.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Lionel Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Lionel, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Lionel mean?
Little lion. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Lionel)
How do you pronounce Lionel?
Lionel is pronounced LY-uh-nel (IPA: /ˈlaɪənəl/).
Is Lionel a popular name right now?
Lionel peaked at #295 in 1933 and is ranked #561 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Lionel? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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