The baby name Lionel balances a fierce meaning with a gentlemanly vibe.
Thanks to Sara for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME LIONEL MEAN?
The baby name Lionel comes from the Greek word leon – lion.
That’s the source for the name Leo, too, via the Latin equivalent.
The king of the jungle has inspired parents for centuries. There were popes called Leo; artists, athletes, and activists known as Leon; and, of course, a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend.
Lionel first evolved as a pet form of Leon in French. Take Leon. Add -el for little lion or young lion.
But the boy’s name Lionel seems a little more subtle, maybe, than straight-up Leo.
SIR LIONEL
Arthurian legends tells us all about Lionel, born a prince of Gaul.
When his father died, he and his brother Bors were raised by the Lady of the Lake. Along with their cousin Lancelot, they all became Knights of the Round Table.
Bors and Lionel fight amongst themselves, even as they attempt the Quest for the Holy Grail.
Ultimately, Lionel dies in battle against Mordred’s army. His brother avenges his death.
The stories were Game of Thrones in an era before the printing press. And, in proof that pop culture has always guided what parents name their children, King Edward III of England named his second son Lionel after the knight.
Aristocratic Lionels followed.
AMERICAN ROYALTY
Hollywood royalty also embraced the name.
American actor Lionel Barrymore reluctantly followed his parents into the business. His acting career spanned five decades, included an Oscar for Best Actor, and the immortal late-in-life role as Mr. Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life.
Barrymore could time stamp the name as a turn-of-the-last-century staple. But the story isn’t that straightforward.
FAMOUS FIGURES
The Lionel model train company was founded by Joshua Lionel Cowen, producing trains from 1903 until 1959, and inspiring several rivals.
While Cowen wasn’t the first to put train tracks under Christmas trees – the practice started in Germany – they became an American custom, too. It makes the baby name Lionel feel gently vintage.
It’s heard across Europe, too, and you might think of:
- Singer Lionel Richie
- Fictional characters from The Jeffersons to Person of Interest on the small screen and Moonrise Kingdom on the big screen
- Popular television host Lionel Blair
- Footballer Lionel Messi, arguably the most famous Lionel of recent years
That’s quite a range.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME LIONEL?
Since Leo is among the most popular names of our moment across much of the western world, it’s reasonable to think that variants like Lionel would be popular, too.
It’s more complicated than that, though.
In Europe, Lionel was most popular in France, peaking around the 1970s.
In the United States, the baby name Lionel consistently ranked in or around the Top 500 – and often closer to the Top 300 – from the year 1900 right through the 1980s. The highest point in terms of usage was during the 1920s and 1930s, but it never really caught on in a big way.
By the year 2002, it was out of the rankings, and it didn’t return until 2010.
As of 2024, the baby name Lionel stands at #561.
At #319, Spanish form Leonel is far more popular. Leonel also leads to the nickname quite naturally.
POLISHED and FIERCE
Lion names are enjoying a moment, from Leo to Leonardo, with plenty of choices in between.
The baby name Lionel also fits right in with distinguished, gentlemanly choices. Sebastian and Montgomery. Arthur and Julian.
Either way, the sound blends in with romantic, dramatic choices like Raphael and Giovanni.
If you’re looking for something equally polished and fierce, the baby name Lionel might strike exactly the right note.
What do you think of the baby name Lionel?
First published on December 13, 2010, this post was revised on March 16, 2022 and August 7, 2025.
I think Lionel is going to shoot up in the rankings soon with Mr. Messi’s move to the U.S. – my prediction is it will cross into the top 500 by 2024. The U.S. has caught up with the rest of world and now officially has Messi fever!
I just saw the movie The King’s Speech. I wonder if it will improve Lionel’s popularity at all?
I think that Lionel Hutz, the dodgy lawyer from the programme The Simpsons, would be one of the first associations for many twenty-somethings today who grew up watching the show.
Honestly, I like it. It’s nerdy and spunky at once. Not dated at all. I’ve heard of a few little ones named Linus, and this is just a step away.
I’ve never really thought about Lionel before, but, now that you have have brought it to my attention, I think I like it.
My first association with the name will always be Lionel the Lion, a character on a children’s show called “Dumbo’s Circus” that I used to watch as a kid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=attoEWTbhrs