Lionel

Meaning: Little lion
Origin: From Latin via French

Boy's name · #659 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Lionel belongs to an older America first — it reached #295 back in 1933 — yet it still appears in today's records at #659. About 34,000 boys have carried it since 1880.

Across the states

See where Lionel is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 29 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Lionel ranks in other countries and regions.

#17 in Argentina (2025) · #108 in Switzerland (2025) · #118 in Puerto Rico (2025) · #151 in Sweden (2025) · #204 in Austria (2025) · #226 in Norway (2025) · #285 in Belgium (2025) · #317 in Ecuador (2025) · #465 in Poland (2025) · #598 in Mexico (2024) · #1,182 in France (2025) · #1,214 in England & Wales (2025) and 1 more.

Famous Lionels

Lionel Messi — Argentine association football player (born 1987)
Lionel Richie — American singer, songwriter and actor
Lionel Jospin — French politician (1937–2026)
Lionel Barrymore — American actor, director, screenwriter (1878–1954)
Lionel Scaloni — Argentine association football player and coach

In stories & tradition

Lionel Hutz — The Simpsons (TV series)
Sir Lionel — Arthurian romance
Lionel Luthor — Smallville (TV series)

What Lionels become

Among 1,304 notable people named Lionel:

Military figures appear 1.68× more often than among typical names — e.g. Lionel Dunsterville, British Army general (1865–1946).

Similar names: Leonel · Marcel · Lyle · Noel · Leroy · Virgil

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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