Leonel
le(o)-nel
US Popularity:613
Origin:British
Meaning:Little lion, lion cub
Set baby up to be king of the playground with the name Leonel, a British baby boy name used widely across several languages, like Spanish and Portuguese. Leonel most commonly derives from the French name Lionel, meaning “lion cub” and has a flavorful, exotic sound to it. It can also be shortened to the trendy masculine nickname Leo, translating to “lion” in both Latin and Greek. Apart from its association with the Dancing on the Ceiling singer Lionel Richie and the big cats of the African savannah, Leo can also refer to the astrological sign of the same name and is a synchronistic choice for baby born in late August or early September.
Leonel Name Popularity Data
The Bump Ranking
Overall:Leonel is currently #1999 on The Bump
Boy:Leonel is currently #1126 on The Bump Boy Names
U.S. Births
Overall:Leonel is currently #613 in U.S. births
Boy:Leonel is currently #307 in U.S. births
Yearly Ranking Change:
Year:
2023
#307
in 2023
+ 20
from 2022
Sources
Behind the Name, Leonel, November 2020
Behind the Name, Lionel, December 2022
Behind the Name, Léon, June 2023
Behind the Name, Leon, June 2023
Name Doctor, Leonel
100,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, pg. 459
100,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, pg. 461
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.
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