Baby Name Lionel: Polished and Fierce

The baby name Lionel balances a fierce meaning with a gentlemanly vibe.

Thanks to Sara for suggesting our Name of the Day

LION

The baby name Lionel comes from the Greek leon – lion.

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 evolved as a French diminutive – Leon plus -el. Little lion.

KNIGHT

Arthurian legends tells us that Lionel was born a prince a Gaul. When his father died, he and his brother Bors were raised by the Lady of the Lake. Along with their cousin Lancelot they both become Knights of the Round Table.

Bors and Lionel fight amongst themselves, even as they attempt the Quest for the Holy Grail.

But 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

American royalty also embraced the name. 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 might time stamp the name as a turn-of-the-last-century staple. But the numbers aren’t that straightforward.

BY the NUMBERS

In fact, 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. It never really caught on. But only in the 1990s did Lionel begin to fade.

It teetered on the edge of the charts for a while.

By the year 2002, it was out of the rankings, and it didn’t return until 2010.

And yet, the baby name Lionel remained broadly familiar.

FAMILIAR RARITY

Even as the baby name Lionel faded from use, it remained broadly familiar.

Some credit goes to Lionel model trains, founded by Joshua Lionel Cowen. The company produced trains from 1903 until 1959, followed by several revivals.

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.

Notable men also answered to the name across the years, including:

• Singer Lionel Richie
• Fictional characters from The Jeffersons to Person of Interest on the small screen and Moonrise Kingdom on the big screen
• Footballer Lionel Messi, arguably the most famous Lionel of recent years

That’s quite a range.

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.

For now, though, the baby name Lionel’s comeback is quite cautious. As of 2020, the name ranked #660.

Spanish form Leonel is far more popular, at #344.

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 substantially and re-published on March 16, 2022.