Boy · French · Christian
Lionel
LionelSay it LY-uh-nul
- Meaning
- Young lion (Old French lionel) Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Lionel
- Say it
- LY-uh-nul
- Other spellings
- Lionell
Lionel
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Lionel meaning
Lionel is a Christian boy's name of French origin.
Young lion (Old French lionel)
Lionel is French and means "young lion". The Online Etymology Dictionary traces it to Old French lionel, also lioncel, a diminutive of lion, which comes from Latin leo, leonem; Leo, Leon and Leonard belong to the same family. In medieval romance Sir Lionel is a knight of King Arthur's Round Table, and the name was borne by Lionel of Antwerp, a son of Edward III of England. Today it is best known worldwide through the footballer Lionel Messi. In India it is used in Mangalorean, Goan and Anglo-Indian families.
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. Lionel · entry Lionel · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Lionel · Online Etymology Dictionary, lion
Famous namesakes
- Lionel Messi, Argentine footballer
- Sir Lionel, knight of the Round Table
Popularity abroad
- #659 United States, boys 2025 (down 97 from 562 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Lionel · Lionell