Is Lionel a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Lionel is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Lionel?

It’s currently ranked #486 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Lionel?

LYE-nuhl · IPA: //ˈlaɪ.nəl//

Lionel Boy

Popularity: #486 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationLYE-nuhl / /ˈlaɪ.nəl/

Latin; French

Meaning

Latin: 'young lion'; French: 'lion-like'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Lionel has roots in Latin, derived from 'Leo', meaning lion. It became popular in medieval Europe, particularly in France, where it was associated with nobility and chivalric tales. The name has been borne by various saints and historical figures, contributing to its enduring appeal. In modern times, Lionel has been embraced in various cultures, often reflecting strength and courage.

Trend Summary

Lionel has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable resurgence in recent years.

Variants

Lionelito
Lion

International Variants

Lionel (Spanish)
Lionel (Portuguese)
Lionel (French)

Famous people named Lionel

Lionel Messi is a professional Argentine footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Lionel Richie is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer known for his successful solo career and work with the Commodores.

Lionel Barrymore was an American actor and director, famous for his roles in early Hollywood films and his work on stage.

Lionel Shriver is an American author known for her novel 'We Need to Talk About Kevin', which received critical acclaim.

Fictional characters named Lionel

Lionel Luthor is a character in the 'Smallville' television series, known as the father of Lex Luthor.

Lionel is a character in the animated series 'The Lion Guard', serving as a supporting character in the story.

Sibling Suggestions

Leon Liam Lucas Luca Lorenzo Landon

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Lionel was first seen in the United States in 1880. Lionel has ranked as high as #810 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in Louisiana, California, New York, Texas, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Lionel has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Lionel (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	95	21%
TX	90	20%
IL	30	7%
NY	30	7%
FL	23	5%
WA	21	5%
GA	20	4%
NC	19	4%
PA	15	3%
AZ	13	3%
IN	12	3%
WI	11	2%
OH	10	2%
UT	9	2%
VA	8	2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	8
1882	5
1883	7
1884	6
1885	5
1886	11
1887	13
1888	9
1889	9
1890	14
1891	17
1892	9
1893	19
1894	20
1895	19
1896	20
1897	19
1898	21
1899	18
1900	26
1901	20
1902	19
1903	30
1904	20
1905	25
1906	27
1907	30
1908	30
1909	34
1910	33
1911	74
1912	119
1913	129
1914	168
1915	224
1916	205
1917	255
1918	266
1919	253
1920	272
1921	334
1922	302
1923	329
1924	325
1925	309
1926	294
1927	319
1928	297
1929	265
1930	281
1931	290
1932	311
1933	321
1934	336
1935	281
1936	291
1937	247
1938	280
1939	277
1940	260
1941	287
1942	274
1943	284
1944	303
1945	306
1946	329
1947	349
1948	339
1949	336
1950	363
1951	340
1952	340
1953	385
1954	359
1955	323
1956	410
1957	336
1958	362
1959	414
1960	467
1961	421
1962	404
1963	383
1964	368
1965	290
1966	292
1967	292
1968	266
1969	283
1970	239
1971	260
1972	215
1973	239
1974	212
1975	252
1976	266
1977	251
1978	249
1979	243
1980	304
1981	293
1982	354
1983	421
1984	443
1985	401
1986	327
1987	310
1988	251
1989	265
1990	231
1991	205
1992	191
1993	204
1994	160
1995	169
1996	130
1997	121
1998	157
1999	136
2000	148
2001	154
2002	122
2003	128
2004	122
2005	144
2006	137
2007	151
2008	161
2009	173
2010	228
2011	282
2012	275
2013	317
2014	388
2015	405
2016	475
2017	458
2018	418
2019	428
2020	398
2021	410
2022	448
2023	607
2024	528