Lionel Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Lionel is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Lionel?
Lionel is spelled L-I-O-N-E-L. The name has 6 letters.
Lionel at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Lionel is commonly understood to mean “young lion.”
- Origin
- Lionel may derive from the Old French diminutive form of “lion,” indicating a connection to the animal lion.
- Pronunciation
- lie-uh-nuhl · 3 syllables
Lionel Popularity in 2025
Rank#659
Recorded Births419
- Boys usage fell 97 places to #659 and recorded 110 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Lionel Mean?
Lionel is commonly understood to mean “young lion.”
Origin: Lionel may derive from the Old French diminutive form of “lion,” indicating a connection to the animal lion.
How Do You Pronounce Lionel?
Pronunciationlie-uh-nuhl
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Lionel?
- History
- The name Lionel has been used in European contexts and appears in medieval literature, often associated with figures of nobility.
Lionel Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 419 | #659 |
| 2024 | Boys | 529 | #562 |
| 2023 | Boys | 609 | #495 |
| 2022 | Boys | 450 | #620 |
| 2021 | Boys | 410 | #660 |
| 2020 | Boys | 398 | #659 |
| 2019 | Boys | 428 | #631 |
| 2018 | Boys | 418 | #634 |
| 2017 | Boys | 458 | #596 |
| 2016 | Boys | 475 | #583 |
| 2015 | Boys | 405 | #645 |
| 2014 | Boys | 388 | #662 |
| 2013 | Boys | 317 | #738 |
| 2012 | Boys | 275 | #807 |
| 2011 | Boys | 282 | #791 |
| 2010 | Boys | 228 | #899 |
| 2009 | Boys | 173 | #1,074 |
| 2008 | Boys | 161 | #1,133 |
| 2007 | Boys | 151 | #1,171 |
| 2006 | Boys | 137 | #1,224 |
| 2005 | Boys | 144 | #1,132 |
| 2004 | Boys | 122 | #1,235 |
| 2003 | Boys | 128 | #1,167 |
| 2002 | Boys | 122 | #1,160 |
When Was Lionel Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2023 · Boys
609 recorded births
National rank #495
2024 · Boys
529 recorded births
National rank #562
2016 · Boys
475 recorded births
National rank #583
1960 · Boys
468 recorded births
National rank #364
Where Lionel Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| CA | #380 | 88 |
| OR | #398 | 9 |
| NV | #443 | 6 |
| IL | #447 | 24 |
| NJ | #469 | 16 |
| AZ | #491 | 14 |
| UT | #515 | 8 |
| MD | #516 | 9 |