Lionell
Lionell was the 10275th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1949, when it ranked 1243rd; the most babies were born in 1960 (36). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,038 places. More babies were named Lionell in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Lionel) little lion · French, Latin
- Rank in 2025
- #10,275 boys
- Babies in 2025
- 7boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 196036 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,613babies recorded
What does the name Lionell mean?
Lionell is a spelling of Lionel, pronounced the same way, so it shares Lionel's meaning and origin.
Lionel is a medieval diminutive meaning "little lion." Wiktionary derives it from French Léon (Latin Leo, lion) or from the Middle English nickname Lion, plus the diminutive ending -el. DMNES notes that in the Arthurian legends Lionel is a younger son of King Bors. Leo itself, from Latin leo and Greek leōn, lion, was borne by ten medieval popes. Lionel has been used in the US since the 19th century.
leo (Latin, “lion”)-el (Old French, “diminutive suffix”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Leo, Leon, Léonel, Lionello.
See also: Latin names, names that mean an animal.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Lionel' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Leo', DMNES (Durham University)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Lionell popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10,275 | 7 |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | #11,636 | 6 |
| 2000 | #7,181 | 9 |
| 1990 | #4,310 | 13 |
| 1980 | #1,989 | 28 |
| 1970 | #2,100 | 19 |
| 1960 | #1,331 | 36 |
| 1950 | #1,332 | 30 |
| 1940 | #2,141 | 12 |
| 1930 | #2,912 | 9 |
| 1920 | #3,380 | 8 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Lionell, counting every spelling?
Lionell is a spelling of Lionel, a name family that ranked #637 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #10,275 for Lionell on its own. Together these spellings went to 426 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel | 419 | #659 | 2,417 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Lionell?
7 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Lionell (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Lionell born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 1,224 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Lionell.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Lionell?
About 1,200 people born in the US named Lionell are alive today, with a median age of 51; half are between 37 and 66. That makes Lionell mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Lionell by state
How common Lionell was among boys born in each state in 1958–1962, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Louisiana (12.3×). In 48 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Lionell: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Lionell, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Lionell
What does Lionell mean?
Lionell is a spelling of Lionel, which means “little lion” (French, Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Lionell?
Lionell was the 10275th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1949, when it ranked 1243rd; the most babies were born in 1960 (36). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,038 places. More babies were named Lionell in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Lionell a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Lionell in the US.
Where was Lionell most popular?
In 1958–1962, Lionell was most common in Louisiana (0.16 per 1,000 boys), followed by Mississippi and Texas.